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Council calls for a better use of space data to enhance crisis management
The Council approved conclusions on the use of satellite data which:
underline the importance of Earth observation and other space data for resilience and crisis preparedness
emphasize the need for enhanced cooperation and use of all available satellite data - public, private, and commercial to better address climate change, disasters, and crises impacting European and global security
call for the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies to ensure better data processing
recommend security measures to counter potential threats (such as cyber-attacks)
Council adopts conclusions on the contribution of space to Europe’s competitiveness
The Council adopted conclusions on ‘strengthening Europe’s competitiveness through space’.
The Council conclusions highlight the growing importance of space in many areas of EU policy and socio-economic challenges, for the green deal, the digital transition and the overall competitiveness of the EU.
They also:
highlight the need to enhance the use of space data
call for the stronger development of the space sector by securing and increasing both public and private investment
emphasise that space is vital for the protection of critical infrastructure
call for the expansion of the European space sector and global collaborative partnerships
Council approves conclusions on the first EU space strategy for security and defence
The Council recalled the EU’s longstanding commitment to international law and to the values and guiding principles developed in the United Nations framework, and reaffirmed the readiness of EU member states to continue working to establish norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviours across the full range of space activities.
Council calls for a European approach on space traffic management
The Council adopted conclusions on the ‘Fair and sustainable use of space’ at a time when orbits are increasingly congested with space objects.
The conclusions:
call for mitigation measures to monitor and manage existing space debris
propose to reinforce capabilities through, for instance, the contribution of the European Union space surveillance and tracking service, in collaboration with the EU space programme agency, to advance towards an EU approach to space traffic management
recognise that the space is a global common that should be free for exploration and use by all states
Council adopts secure space-based connectivity programme
Ministers adopted a regulation on the EU’s secure connectivity programme for 2023-2027. The programme sets goals for the European Union to deploy an EU satellite constellation called 'IRIS²' (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) that will provide ultra-fast and highly secure communication services by 2027.
IRIS² will help improve the EU’s resilience and sovereignty as governments will benefit from this space-based communication system for services like:
protection of critical infrastructure
surveillance
support for external action
crisis management
The programme also contributes to the EU digital transition and reinforces the competitiveness of EU satellite communication services.
Ministers adopt conclusions on space traffic management and Copernicus programme
Ministers adopted conclusions on space traffic management (STM), underlining the importance of strengthening EU space surveillance and tracking capabilities and of coordinating legislation and standardisation. This will amplify the EU’s voice on the international stage when it comes to space traffic management.
The EU approach to space traffic management will reduce the risk of collisions and ensure that space remains safe and sustainable.
The Council also adopted conclusions on Copernicus by 2035, to help prepare the future of the Copernicus space programme. They set out a vision for 2035 and political guidance for the Copernicus programme based on three key pillars: the Green Deal, the digital transition, and security, together contributing to a more resilient Europe.
The Council adopted conclusions on ’space for everyone’, emphasising the importance of the participation of stakeholders from all member states in the space sector and of strengthening the link between space and non-space sectors.
Space is one of the fastest growing technological sectors in the EU, but the capacities of the European space sector are unevenly distributed. The conclusions emphasise the need to include start-ups, small-to-medium size businesses (SMEs) and mid-capitalisation businesses (mid-caps) among participating stakeholders, as they can help respond to global challenges such as climate change and security issues.
The Council adopted conclusions on the need for a European approach to new space to drive an innovative and competitive EU space sector. The ‘New Space for People’ can contribute to the EU green and digital transitions and reinforce European resilience, while also responding to the needs of citizens.
Space for people in coastal areas - Council conclusions
The Council adopted conclusions on the need to unleash the full potential of the EU space programmes Copernicus, Galileo and EGNOS to improve climate change mitigation and the quality of life of people in European coastal areas.
EU space programme: Council adopts first reading position
The Council adopted its first reading position on the proposed regulation establishing the €14.8 billion EU space programme for the years 2021 to 2027.
In line with the political agreement reached last December between the co-legislators, the European Parliament is expected to approve the Council’s position at first reading in April 2021. After the formal adoption, the regulation will apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.
"Space action at the heart of European strategic autonomy"
President Charles Michel gave a welcome speech at the 13th European Space Conference entitled 'Space embracing a changing world: green, digital, resilience & security' which took place on 12-13 January 2021. Michel's speech highlighted the role of the space sector in the EU's overall strategy focused on the green and digital transitions, as well as on ensuring more strategic autonomy to Europe.
Europe is already a major player in space. If we want to be stronger and more self-confident on the global landscape, we must also be stronger in space. [...] Developing our space sector will help us reinforce our strategic autonomy – goal number one of our generation, in my view.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
2020
16 December
EU Space Programme : Council presidency reaches political agreement with the European Parliament
EU Council and European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed regulation establishing the next EU space programme for 2021-2027.
A financial envelope of €14.8 billion in current prices (€13.2 billion in 2018 prices) has been set aside for the programme, broken down for:
Galileo and EGNOS: €9 billion
Copernicus: €5.4 billion
SSA and /GOVSATCOM: €442 million
The text will be submitted to the Council's permanent representatives committee for analysis/political endorsement on Friday 18 December 2020. Following political endorsement by both the Council and the European Parliament, it will be the basis for the future adoption of the proposed regulation at second reading.
Ministers discuss Europe’s role in the global space economy
Ministers of space had an informal exchange of views via video conference on Europe’s role in the global space economy. They discussed how the EU could enhance the competitiveness of its space industry and play a bigger role in shaping international regulatory regimes.
Based on conclusions adopted on 11 November 2020, ministers also prepared the meeting of the tenth Space Council, which was held by video conference on the same day.
Finally, ministers took note of the work programme of the incoming Portuguese presidency in the field of space (first semester 2021).
The Council adopted conclusions on the European contribution in establishing key principles for the global space economy in preparation of the tenth Space Council meeting with ESA, to be held on 20 November 2020.
The text provides important orientations for future European space policy.
The Council notes the emergence of a highly competitive European space industry and supply chains, which enables Europe to participate in (and contribute to) the global growth of the space economy. It calls upon all actors to work towards ensuring a global level-playing field and open economies.
The Council stresses the need for European technological non-dependence and recalls the importance of maintaining a secure, autonomous, reliable, cost-effective and affordable access to space. Particular attention is devoted to space traffic management and space cybersecurity.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Council stresses the importance of coordinated actions by the European Union, the European Space Agency and their respective member states to strengthen the European space policy.
Space policy for a sustainable economy: Council adopts conclusions
The Council adopted a set of conclusions focusing on the role of space policy in sustainable development, in particular:
space for long-term sustainable growth
education and skills for space
The Council underlined the need to promote the development of a sustainable European space sector to meet the demands of future generations and guarantee European competitiveness.
The Council also called on the European Commission, together with member states, in cooperation with industry, research organisations and academia, to identify future skills shortages and gaps, and to consider possible solutions and targeted initiatives.
Ministers discuss the role of space in the EU recovery
Ministers exchanged views on how to enhance the economic, environmental and social benefits of space applications. They discussed the contribution of space data, services and technologies to the sustainable development of the EU, and the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Space technologies are playing a crucial role in bringing solutions and enabling our societies to fight the current and any further crisis. They are a valuable tool in our efforts to promote a more resilient and sustainable development of our societies. We will provide the space sector with adequate financing and human resources in order to safeguard Europe's sovereignty in space.
Blaženka Divjak, Croatian minister of science and education
Space solutions for a sustainable Arctic: Council adopts conclusions
The Council adopted conclusions on the role of space-based services in ensuring a sustainable Arctic region.
EU ministers encouraged the European Commission and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Agency to collaborate actively with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).
The EU is designing its space policy programme for the years 2021-2027. EU ambassadors confirmed the common understanding reached by the Council presidency with the European Parliament on the draft regulation on an EU space programme.
The regulation will ensure:
high-quality, up-to-date and secure space-related data and services
increased growth and job creation in the EU due to use of such data and services
enhanced security and strategic autonomy of the EU
a stronger role for the EU as a leading actor in the space sector
The financial and other aspects of the EU space programme will depend on the future agreement on the next multiannual financial framework, the EU's long-term budget.
EU ambassadors agreed on the Council's position regarding the draft regulation on the future EU space programme. This position enables the start of negotiations with the European Parliament.
One main purpose of the new regulation is to ensure high-quality, up-to-date and secure space-related data and services.
Ministers discussed the future of the European space policy, particularly in the context of the digital single market.
Against the backdrop of the digital economy, space has an increasingly important role to play. It is an invisible infrastructure which is used to acquire and distribute data and information. This entails the emergence of new forms of business models.
Emil Karanikolov, Minister for the Economy of Bulgaria
The Council discussed the way forward for the EU's space programmes and adopted conclusions on the mid-term review of the Copernicus programme.
Ministers acknowledged that the flagship programmes Galileo and Copernicus are already contributing to the well-being of European citizens and to the growth of the EU economy. They added that space data has great potential to improve employment opportunities.
The Council held a debate on the implementation of the space strategy for Europe. It also adopted conclusions that will contribute to the implementation of the strategy.
Ministers stressed that the EU's Galileo and Copernicus space programmes are successful examples of the benefits and strengths that European integration can deliver not only to EU citizens, but to the whole world.
The Council welcomed the new space strategy for Europe proposed by the European Commission on 26 October 2016.
Ministers held a public debate about those actions in the strategy that can bring tangible benefits to European citizens and companies, and have a major positive impact on the EU's competitiveness.
The Council discussed ways of improving the uptake of space data from European space programmes to create growth and jobs.
The outcome of the discussion will provide input to the Commission initiative “A Space Strategy for Europe”, to be issued in the autumn of 2016.
Ministers outlined that space data, applications and services, coupled with the rapid development of the digital economy, could offer enormous benefits:
Europe is already a major player in space. If we want to be stronger and more self-confident on the global landscape, we must also be stronger in space. [...] Developing our space sector will help us reinforce our strategic autonomy – goal number one of our generation, in my view.
Space technologies are playing a crucial role in bringing solutions and enabling our societies to fight the current and any further crisis. They are a valuable tool in our efforts to promote a more resilient and sustainable development of our societies. We will provide the space sector with adequate financing and human resources in order to safeguard Europe's sovereignty in space.