The second round of discussions on the Commission’s Space Green Paper is set to take place in Madrid on 24 and 25 March 2003. The debate will centre on the ‘industrial vision’ and will feature representatives of the European space industry, including Arianespace, SNECMA, THALES, Astrium, Alenia Spazio and many others. Opening the event will be Spanish Minister for Science and Technology Josep Piqué. Joining him will be Director General of CDTI Vicente Gómez and EUROSPACE Chair Pascale Sourisse. A provisional programme is now available.

The Green Paper process comprises a series of seminars, workshops and hearings currently taking place throughout Europe. Its aim is to foster a wide-ranging debate among national and international organisations, the European space industry, the scientific community and the general public. An exchange that includes all of the relevant stakeholders will help to shape a comprehensive EU Space Policy, to be detailed in a White Paper later this year.

Individual contributions to the discussion can be posted via the dedicated online forum.

For more information on the consultation process and how to participate in the events, contact: space-policy@cec.eu.int