7 European space policy
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9032/05
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COM(05) 208
| Commission Communication: European Space Policy — Preliminary elements
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | Trade and Industry
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letters of 4 and 18 July 2005
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-i (2005-06), para 22 (4 July 2005)
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| Discussed in Council | 6-7 June 2005
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Not cleared. Further information requested.
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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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