13 European Space Strategy
| (24945)
12858/03
—
| Draft Council Decision on the signing of the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the European Space Agency.
|
| Legal base | Articles 170 and 300(2) EC; consultation; QMV
|
| Document originated | 7 October 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament | 13 October 2003
|
| Department | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 23 October 2003
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | 27 November 2003
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
13.1 In November 2000 the Research Council and the Ministerial
Council of the European Space Agency (ESA)[23]
adopted a European Space Strategy which indicated the need for
an agreed framework for cooperation between the Community and
the ESA. Negotiations on such an agreement are now concluded.
The document
13.2 The draft Resolution would authorise signature on behalf
of the Community of the Framework Agreement with the ESA, allowing
formal conclusion of the agreement. The agreement sets out the
practical details of future co-operation between the ESA and the
Community, which will cover eight specific fields:
- science;
- technology;
- Earth observation;
- navigation;
- communication by satellite;
- human space flight and micro-gravity;
- launchers; and
- spectrum policy related to space.
13.3 The intention is to allow development of an
overall European Space Policy. In particular, it is intended to
improve the link between the Community's demand for services and
applications using space systems and the ESA's supply of space
systems and infrastructure. Co-operation is also intended to ensure
that the wider interests of the Community, such as sustainable
development, economic growth and employment, are taken into account
by the European Space Policy and to encourage the use of space
systems in pursuing these interests.
13.4 Co-operation will involve joint initiatives,
including bodies to pursue targets and carry out studies. The
ESA will manage space-related tasks in accordance with Community
rules. The parties will work together on international activities
and external relations with third parties, such as Russia and
China. An informal "Space Council" will be created,
in the form of joint meetings of the Council and the ESA Ministerial
Council to co-ordinate, facilitate and oversee co-operation and
the Framework Agreement.
13.5 The Council and the ESA will retain their existing
arrangements for decision-making and funding for joint initiatives,
so that Community space activities will continue to be funded
under open competition arrangements, while the ESA will retain
its juste retour system, under which commercial
returns from each particular space activity are allocated according
to the extent of member investment in that activity.
The Government's view
13.6 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord
Sainsbury) tells us:
"The UK is a strong supporter of closer EC/ESA
co-operation, and has been a major driver of this since its 1998
EU Presidency. This Framework Agreement is a result of, and is
consistent with, the initiative taken at that time. The success
so far of EC/ESA co-operation in developing the European Space
Strategy and in the field of external relations with third parties
is promising.
"Closer co-operation between the EC and the
ESA is important in developing a common approach to put space
at the service of European citizens, a principle which the United
Kingdom has pressed for and which is in line with our own user-driven
approach to space activity. It will allow greater interaction
between a significant user of space resources (the EC) and the
provider of technology (the ESA). This co-operation offers a common
European approach, avoids duplication and contributes to a more
secure industrial environment.
"The UK pressed for the Space Council to meet
only when necessary and in the margins of the Competitiveness
Council. This was achieved. The UK also sought to ensure that
arrangements for specific co-operation should not be too prescriptive
in the Agreement. This too was achieved. The UK also welcomes
the decision that ESA's Juste Retour industrial policy
has not been extended into programmes funded by the European Commission."
13.7 The Minister adds, on related issues:
"The Green Paper[24]
posed a series of questions concerning the future of European
activities in space and institutional arrangements, including
a reference to the Framework Agreement. The UK strongly supported
the Green Paper process, although we have concerns about several
issues that it raised.
"The Green Paper suggested that it may be desirable
to grant the Community competence in space. We have seen a draft
outline of the White Paper, which was produced in September. We
expect the White Paper to raise many of the same issues that arose
in the Green Paper. It is intended that the White Paper will be
approved by EU and ESA Ministers and then presented to the Competitiveness
Council on November 27th. This timetable may be optimistic."
Conclusion
13.8 The document will allow the formal establishment
of a necessary framework for cooperation on important space activity
between the Community and the European Space Agency. We clear
the document.
23 The ESA is the organisation for drawing up and
implementing a European space plan. All Member States, except
Greece and Luxembourg, are members together with Norway and Switzerland.
Canada and Hungary cooperate in some ESA projects. Back
24
A Commission Green Paper on European Space Policy - see (24226)
5707/03: HC 63-xxx (2002-03), paragraph 15 (16 July 2003). Back
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