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Space programme 2021–2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme

2018/0236(COD)

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the space programme of the Union and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) No 912/2010, (EU) No 1285/2013, (EU) No 377/2014 and Decision 541/2014/EU.

As a reminder, the Commission’s proposal seeks to merge in a single Programme the existing Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus and adds two new initiatives, which are space situational awareness (SSA) and GOVSATCOM. As encouraged in the Space Policy for Europe, a fully integrated Space Programme will exploit synergies between the components, increasing effectiveness and cost efficiency. A single and coherent framework will encourage future investments, increase visibility and offer more flexibility. 

The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal as follows.

Subject matter: the proposed Regulation seeks to establish the space programme of the Union. It lays down the objectives of the Programme, the budget for the period 2021-2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding, as well as the rules for the implementation of the Programme.

It also proposed to establish the European Union Agency for the Space Programme that replaces and succeeds the European GNSS Agency established by Regulation (EU) No 912/2010 and lays down the rules of operation of the Agency.

Objectives: the Programme shall have the following general objectives:

  • provide high-quality and up-to-date secure space-related data, information and services without interruption and wherever possible at global level;
  • maximise the socio-economic benefits of the Programme;
  • enhance the security, including cybersecurity, of the Union and its Member States, and reinforce its strategic autonomy, in particular in industrial and technological terms;
  • strengthen the European industrial and scientific ecosystem in the field of space, by establishing a coherent framework that combines the excellence of European training and know-how, the development of high-level design, manufacturing capabilities and the strategic vision needed in an increasingly competitive sector;
  • strengthen the Union’s space diplomacy and encourage international cooperation to raise awareness of space as a common heritage of mankind;
  • promote Union technology and industry and foster the principle of reciprocity and fair competition at international level;
  • enhance the safety of the Union and its Member States in various fields, in particular in transportation (aviation, including unmanned aerial vehicles, rail transports, navigation, road transports, autonomous driving), infrastructure building and monitoring, land monitoring and environment;
  • foster the development of a strong and competitive Union space economy and maximise opportunities for Union enterprises of all sizes and all Union regions.

Budget: Members proposed that the financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2021-2027 be set at EUR 16.9 billion in current prices. This shall be broken down as such:

  • Galileo and EGNOS: EUR 9.7 billion;
  • Copernicus: EUR 6 billion;
  • SSA/GOVSATCOM: EUR 1.2 billion.

Role of the Commission: Members called on the Commission to ensure complementarity, consistency, synergies and links between the Programme and other Union actions and programmes. It shall, in close cooperation with the Agency and, where applicable, the European Space Agency and the Copernicus entrusted entities support and contribute to:

  • the activities relating to the uptake and use of the data and services provided by the Programme's components in the public and private sectors;
  • the development of synergies between the applications;
  • the appropriate development of those services;
  • fostering a stable long-term environment.

Financial framework partnership agreement: the Commission shall conclude with the Agency and the European Space Agency a financial framework partnership agreement of the Financial Regulation. That financial framework partnership agreement shall:

  • clearly define the roles, responsibilities and obligations of the Commission, the Agency and the European Space Agency with regard to the Programme;
  • clearly define the instruments of coordination and control for the implementation of the Programme components, taking into consideration the Commission´s roles and responsibilities to carry out overall coordination of the Programme components;
  • require that the European Space Agency comply with the security rules of the Union programme, in particular with regard to the processing of classified information;
  • stipulate the conditions of the management of funds entrusted to the European Space Agency, including the application of Union public procurement rules;
  • establish the monitoring and control measures, which shall include, in particular, a cost forecast system and the systematic provision of information to the Commission or, where appropriate, to the Agency, on costs and schedule;
  • establish the principles for the remuneration of the European Space Agency, taking into consideration its cost model as a public entity, which shall be proportionate to the difficulty of the tasks to be carried out, in line with market prices and the fees of the other entities involved, including the Union, and may, where appropriate, be based on performance indicators; those fees shall not cover general overheads which are not associated with the activities entrusted to the European Space Agency by the Union;
  • require that the European Space Agency ensures full protection of the interests of the Union and its decisions.

Seat and local offices: Members proposed that the seat of the Agency shall be located in Prague (Czech Republic). In accordance with the needs of the Programme, the Agency may establish local offices.