Select Committee on European Scrutiny Seventh Report


7 European space policy

(26592)

9032/05

+ ADD 1

COM(05) 208

Commission Communication: European Space Policy — Preliminary elements

Legal base
DepartmentTrade and Industry
Basis of considerationMinister's letters of 4 and 18 July 2005
Previous Committee ReportHC 34-i (2005-06), para 22 (4 July 2005)
Discussed in Council6-7 June 2005
Committee's assessmentPolitically important
Committee's decisionNot cleared. Further information requested.

Background

7.1 Space activities at the European level are undertaken within the Framework Agreement between the Community and the European Space Agency (ESA).[25] The agreement is particularly 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, and came into operation in May 2004. The Agreement created an informal "Space Council", in the form of joint meetings between the Community's Council of Ministers (in the Competitiveness Council formation) and the ESA Ministerial Council, to coordinate, facilitate and oversee cooperation and the implementation of the Framework Agreement.

7.2 This document is a response, to the Space Council's wish to establish a European Space Policy and an accompanying European Space Programme, prepared by the Joint Secretariat established by the Framework Agreement. It outlines the elements of a European Space Policy and covers strategy, roles and responsibilities, priorities and costs and implementation.

7.3 When we considered the document in July 2005 we saw it as a further step consolidating the content of a European Space Policy and a European Space Programme and noted that the Government was alert to need to:

  • make a clear distinction between security and defence;
  • prevent inappropriate Community involvement in a launcher programme; and
  • take funding decisions within the context of an agreed Financial Perspective.

But we said that before considering the document further we wanted to hear how the Government intended these matters to be addressed. We also commented that the "Orientations" adopted by the Space Council are in effect also Decisions adopted by the Council and said that for the future we should like the Government to deposit draft Orientations so that they may be scrutinised before adoption.

The Minister's letters

7.4 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville) sent a copy of the adopted Orientations. Of Orientations he says, that as they have no Treaty base and so are not binding, the Government regards them as akin to Council conclusions rather than Council Decisions and so not formally depositable. Nevertheless the Minister undertakes, insofar as timetabling permits, to deposit future draft Orientations for scrutiny.

7.5 The adopted Orientations note that "the decision on the EU Financial Perspective will determine the ability of the Programme to match the ambitions of the European Space Programme". As for civil security activity in the European Space Programme the Minister elaborates on the care with which the Government monitors the distinction between security and defence, both in relation to European Space Policy and other policies and programmes, and emphasises its intention to ensure observance of the distinction in future Orientations. On funding of launcher programmes the Minister confirms that the Government will continue to insist that this should come through the ESA, as envisaged in the Orientations.

Conclusion

7.6 We are grateful to the Minister for this further information and for his undertaking in regard to draft Orientations. However, we should like him to tell us also what would be the precise legal bases for Community activity, as opposed to that of the European Space Agency, envisaged in the European Space Policy and the accompanying European Space Programme.

7.7 Meanwhile we do not clear the document.


25   Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are members of ESA. Luxembourg is expected to become a member in 2005. Canada, the Czech Republic and Hungary participate in some projects. ESA's funding is for a mixture of mandatory programmes (where all members contribute in proportion to GDP) and optional programmes (where members choose programmes in which they wish to participate). Back


 
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