Space strategy for Europe

PURPOSE: to present a new space strategy for Europe.

BACKGROUND: Europe owns world class space systems with Copernicus for Earth observation, EGNOS and Galileo for satellite navigation and geo-positioning.

With 18 satellites currently in orbit and over 30 planned in the next 10-15 years, the EU is the largest institutional customer for launch services in Europe.

The European space economy, including manufacturing and services, employs over 230 000 professionals and its value was estimated at EUR 46-54 billion in 2014, representing around 21% of the value of the global space sector. Between 2014 and 2020, the EU alone will invest over EUR 12 billion in space activities.

Space technologies, data and services have become indispensable in the daily lives of European citizens: when using mobile phones and car navigation systems, watching satellite TV or withdrawing cash. Satellites provide immediate information when disasters, such as earthquakes, forest fires or floods strike, allowing emergency and rescue teams to better coordinate their efforts. Agriculture benefits from improved land use. Transportation and energy infrastructure is safer and can be more efficiently managed thanks to satellite technologies. Global challenges due to growing populations, increased demand for resources and climate change require information about our planet which space based solution can provide more easily.

In a fast-changing international space context, Europe must work together to promote its position as a leader in space, increase its share on the world space markets, and seize the benefits and opportunities offered by space.

CONTENT: building on Article 189 of the Treaty (TFEU), the Commission is proposing a new space strategy for Europe focused on four strategic goals:

1) Maximising the benefits of space for society and the EU economy: it is necessary to boost demand among public and private users, facilitating access to and use of space data, and stimulating the development and use of innovative downstream applications but also ensuring the continuity and user-driven development of EU space programmes.

The Commission will:

• encourage the use of space services, data and applications in EU policies whenever they provide effective solutions (from environmental protection to transport safety, precision farming, control of fishery stocks, monitoring of shipping routes and detection of oil spills, to urban and regional planning);
• take concrete measures, including regulatory ones where justified and beneficial, to introduce Galileo in specific markets or areas, such as mobile phones, European critical infrastructure and aviation;
• facilitate the use of Copernicus data and information by strengthening data dissemination and setting up platform services, promoting interfaces with non-space data and services;
• stimulate the development of space applications with a greater involvement of new actors from different domains;
• address emerging needs related, in particular, to climate change/sustainable development and security and defence;
• explore alternative business models (public-public, public-private partnerships or buying services) with a view to mobilising funds.

2) Fostering a globally competitive and innovative European space sector: the European space industry is facing tougher global competition. Space is now part of a global value chain that increasingly attracts new companies and entrepreneurs. This opens up new opportunities to develop innovative products, services and processes which can benefit industry in all Member States, creating new capacities and adding value in and outside the space sector.

The Commission intends to:

• step up its efforts to support space R&D activities, in cooperation with Member States and ESA, and review its strategic approach to boosting the competitiveness of the European space sector;
• support space entrepreneurs through EU funding programmes to facilitate further financing of investments in the space sector;
• support space start-ups, including by exploring synergies with the upcoming Fund of Funds, and facilitate the emergence of space hubs and clusters across Europe.

3) Reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy: space is becoming a more contested and challenged environment. Europe needs to ensure its freedom of action and autonomy. It needs to have access to space and be able to use it safely.

The Commission wishes to:

• aggregate the launch service needs of EU programmes and act as a smart customer of European reliable and cost-effective launch solutions;
• encourage the development of commercial markets for new space activities;
• ensure that European satellite systems and operators have access to spectrum that is protected from interference from other system;
• enhance the current EU space surveillance tracking (SST) support framework to protect against cyber threats or the impact of space weather on satellites;
• propose a Govsatcom initiative (new initiative providing resilient satellite communication services for governmental and institutional security users) to ensure reliable, secured and cost-effective satellite communication services for EU and national public authorities and infrastructure.

4) Strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor: the Commission will therefore work alongside the High Representative and Member States in promoting international principles of responsible behaviour in outer space in the framework of the United Nations and other appropriate multilateral fora.

The Commission will pursue space dialogues with strategic international partners, ensure that space policy is duly taken into account in EU export control dialogues with third countries.