Vidéoconférence des ministres chargés des questions spatiales, 29 mai 2020

Principaux points de l'ordre du jour

Les ministres chargés de la politique spatiale débattront du rôle des données, des services et des technologies en matière spatiale pour favoriser une relance économique verte et durable après la crise de la COVID-19.

Alors même que l'Europe est confrontée aux défis posés par la pandémie de coronavirus COVID-19, la transition vers une économie durable et neutre pour le climat demeure une priorité. La transition verte a été considérée comme un domaine d'investissement essentiel dans la feuille de route commune pour la relance présentée le 21 avril par le président du Conseil européen, Charles Michel, et la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen.

Les technologies spatiales sont essentielles pour relever les défis de cette transition verte. En outre, le secteur spatial offre des possibilités de croissance économique et soutient la compétitivité et la résilience de l'UE.

Dans ce contexte, les ministres procéderont à un échange de vues sur:

• le recours aux données et services spatiaux de l'UE pour favoriser la relance verte
• le rôle des technologies et infrastructures spatiales pour le développement durable

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

The exchange of views was structured around the following questions :

• How to integrate the use of EU space data and services by public authorities to foster green recovery after the COVID-19 crisis?
• In what way space systems and infrastructure can help in moving faster toward a sustainable development path?

It was broadly acknowledged that the space sector is of great benefit to the EU's societal and economic needs, as well as to the green transition. Investments in space not only generate considerable economic returns but tend to have an important impact on our societies, by providing the tools for evidence-based and efficient policymaking.

It was stressed that even as Europe is facing unprecedented challenges with the ongoing crisis, the transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral EU economy remains a priority. Space-based technologies can offer solutions in the recovery phase and in building a more resilient society for the future. They provide the tools to respond to numerous challenges, such as the depletion of natural resources, climate change, efficient road traffic management, agricultural efficiency and maritime navigation.

At the end of the meeting, the representative of Germany presented the priorities of the upcoming German presidency of the Council in the field of space for the second half of 2020. These include the adoption of the new space programme and the definition of key principles for the global space economy.

At the end of the video conference, the Croatian presidency issued a press release.

• Croatian presidency's press release on the video conference of ministers responsible for space (29 May 2020)
• EU space policy (background information)