13 European Space Policy
| (26592)
9032/05
+ ADD 1
COM(05) 208
| Commission Communication: European Space Policy — Preliminary elements
|
| Legal base | — |
| Department | Trade and Industry
|
| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 21 November 2005
|
| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-vii (2005-06), para 7 (26 October 2005)
|
| Discussed in Council | 6-7 June 2005
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically Important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
13.1 Space activities at the European level are undertaken within
the Framework Agreement between the Community and the European
Space Agency (ESA).[24]
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.
13.2 This Communication 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. When we last considered
the document, in October 2005, we asked the Government 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.[25]
THE MINISTER'S LETTER
13.3 The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for
Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord
Sainsbury of Turville) begins by telling us that the Framework
Agreement between the Community and the European Space Agency
(ESA) itself was concluded, on the side of the Community, under
Articles 170 and 300(2) of the EC Treaty.
13.4 The Minister then tells us that the legal bases
of European Space Policy programme areas are considered individually,
with the department examining all Commission proposals to ensure
a competence to act has been clearly identified. He gives as current
examples Galileo (a global satellite navigation system) and GMES
(the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme).
He says that Community participation in Galileo has been has been
undertaken in the context of the Community's Framework Programmes
for research and technological development, the legal base for
which is Title XVIII (Articles 163-172) of the EC Treaty, and
of the Trans-European Networks (TENs) programmes, the legal base
for which is Title XV (Articles 154-156) of the EC Treaty. He
notes particularly that the TENs Financial Regulation was amended
in 1999 so as to allow support for satellite navigation projects.
As for GMES the Minister says initial studies have been funded
under Framework Programmes and it is envisaged that further development
will funded under the Seventh Framework Programme.
Conclusion
13.5 We are grateful to the Minister for
this information and, as we have no further questions on this
document itself, we now clear it. However, we shall want to examine
individual projects as they arise under the European Space Programme,
looking particularly to both their utility and their legal bases.
24 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
25
See headnote. Back
|
