Space

Space Green Paper

2.1 Contributing to the emerging knowledge society and the competitiveness of European industry

Space systems are closely linked to the setting-up of a competitive knowledge society, intended both to ensure that all European citizens, notably those with special requirements, may have access to advanced technologies and services, and to make European industry more competitive. Digital television, third generation mobile communications and internet, individually or together, are examples of useful platforms for the deployment of such services, to which space systems can contribute(1).

The key problem in this area is the need to develop new economically viable applications, which make optimum use of the benefits of earth and space technologies, with generally different industrial cycles and capital yield profiles. However, in an extremely competitive environment, the level of public support for the developments merits debate.

Equally, it would be useful to define the new space systems necessary to optimise the global information exchange network; for what applications, and on what economic basis.

Q7: What are the conditions for the emergence of economically viable and competitive applications and space services for citizens and industries? Will political actions be justified, and if this is the case, to what extent could public support be considered necessary?

Ten new Member States will join the Union in 2004, adding 75 million citizens to the existing Community of 375 million people, increasing markedly the benefits accorded by investment on space systems.

"Social inclusion" in terms of communication, circulation of cultural content and access to high quality services is crucial in ensuring the success of rapid integration. "Digital inclusion", which makes use of space?based resources, is an element of major importance in this respect.

A Union enlarged to continental size, with an even more diversified geography and considerable inequalities in the level of equipment and infrastructure, means an increased demand for which use can be made of particular capacities provided by space?based infrastructure.

These capacities should speed up the integration of the new Member States and make it possible to more rapidly improve the quality of services to which citizens, companies and public authorities have access:

• development of their links with the other countries of the Union (for example, in reinforcing the communications infrastructures);
• maintain the interests of an enlarged Union (notably for the monitoring and security of the frontiers).

The diversity and cultural exchanges of Europe's populations can also be better served thanks to the flexibility rendered possible, in particular, by television broadcasting via satellites.