Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Council’s conclusions emphasize strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through space, highlighting its role in addressing socio-economic challenges, supporting economic growth, and ensuring strategic autonomy with increased public-private investment.
The European Council has adopted conclusions on ‘strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through space’. The text echoes how a more competitive European space sector can assist with the economic and social challenges of the Union and support its role at the global level.
What Socio-Economic Challenges Does Space Address in Europe?
The Europen Council conclusions emphasise the growing significance of space in many areas of EU socio-economic challenges and approaches, from the Green Deal (with data collection to better comprehend and prepare for climate change), the digital transition (communication and data space-based services) or the overall competitiveness of the EU.
Furthermore, space assists economic growth by generating innovative solutions, systems applications and assistance that can benefit many other sectors via more combined cooperation between the space and non-space sectors.
What Role Does Public Investment Play in Space Sector Growth?
In the text adopted, member states highlight the need to enhance the use of space data and call for the more powerful development of the space sector by securing and improving both public and private investment. Public procurement, a good risk management framework or the advancement of public and private funding models could have a favourable impact on all actors in the space ecosystem, including small and medium businesses.
The conclusions also highlight the importance of profiting from the multiplying impact of investment in space research and development, enabling a stable and predictable business framework and designing the necessary skills within the sector’s workforce. The conclusions emphasise the important role of public authorities in securing cost-effective data access for companies while maintaining the security and protection of space data.
What Measures Are Recommended to Enhance Space Sector Development?
The Council states that based on the decisions adopted, the European Union and the European Space Agency should assist in the development of global practices that ensure a sustainable space environment. The conclusions note that a strong European space sector is essential for European strategic autonomy, and call for the growth of the European space sector and global collaborative collaborations. The conclusions also highlight that space is vital for the security of critical infrastructure (such as energy or network infrastructure), which makes it critical to secure critical technologies.
What Initiatives Are Being Taken to Celebrate ESA-EU Cooperation?
The Belgian presidency of the EU Council has arranged a joint ESA-EU Space Council to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ESA-EU Framework Agreement. The ESA-EU Framework Agreement, which is the institutional basis for the cooperation between both organisations, envisions the organisation of such meetings. The theme suggested for this occasion was ‘Reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness via space’. The major challenges the European space sector is currently meeting include navigating through international competition, developing cutting-edge innovation, and improving the global attractiveness of Europe’s space market.
Thomas Dermine, Belgian State Secretary for Strategic Recovery and Investments, in charge of Scientific Policy, Deputy to the Minister for the Economy and Employment said, the “space sector will play an increasingly important role in the strategic autonomy of Europe. An ambitious space policy will create business opportunities and quality jobs in this fast-growing sector, and will also help our economy, both industry and services, to accelerate the green and digital transitions and be better prepared to compete at the global level.”
