The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an Opinion on the White Paper on European Space Policy on 31 March 2004. As part of the European Union’s institutional system providing a link between Europe and civil society, the EESC has a key role to play in the Union’s decision-making process.
The EESC is a non-political consultative assembly where various socio-economic organisations and interest groups from EU Member States can express their points of views on EU issues. Its Opinions are forwarded to the larger institutions – the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament.
The EESC was an active participant in the Space Green Paper process in 2003, which ultimately led to the publication of the Space White Paper in November 2003. The EESC Opinion on the White Paper was presented by Stéphane Buffetaut.
From the Opinion:
The European Economic and Social Committee considers the White Paper to be a high-quality document which has the great merit of being an expression of political will which is formulated in a strong and coherent manner.
Nevertheless, the Committee deplores the weakness of the section on the ‘digital divide’ and broadband technologies. It therefore urges the Commission to review and expand this section by considering the complementarity between space-based and terrestrial solutions.
A strategic asset
The Committee would again stress the key strategic importance of space activities for the European Union. It calls for the Union’s policy approach, particularly as regards international cooperation, to be underpinned by a realistic vision that is free of all trace of naivety, especially in view of the dual nature (civil/military) of the technologies which space activities are based on.
The Committee emphasises that the space sector, which has been restructured and taken the necessary steps to improve competitiveness in order to be able to compete internationally, employs directly some 30,000 people, many of them highly skilled, and that it is essential to maintain and enrich this vast human potential, which is the source of European excellence in this field. In particular, it would point out that greater attention should be paid to training, both initial and continuing, in a sector based on high technologies which are evolving along with progress in scientific research.
Call for co-operation
Despite the failure of the Intergovernmental Conference, the Committee recommends that the European Union, building on the framework agreement between the Commission and ESA, press ahead resolutely with its efforts to shape and stimulate demand and with space initiatives, without duplicating the programmes of Member States, their national agencies or ESA and without standing in the way of enhanced co-operation or strong partnerships between certain Member States. The Committee recommends the incorporation of space policy within the remit of a high-level EU body or official.
The Committee urges that the budgetary resources granted for space policy be equivalent, at a minimum, to the level of funding envisaged in scenario B of Annex 2 and to avoid any chance that investment by the EU might result in a corresponding decline in investment by Member States.
The adventure of space
Space policy, because of the human, scientific and strategic challenges it involves, touches at the very heart of the human adventure. As a result, Europe is again on the road to a date with history, in a geopolitical context where other leading continental powers are key protagonists. We do not have the right to miss this encounter.”
EESC member Stéphane Buffetaut has been a strong voice in favour space activities in Europe. While the new EESC Opinion does not differ to a great extent from the ideas expressed in the White Paper, its delivery reflects the sense of urgency and determination that could make the difference between a space power that looks to the future and, in Buffetaut’s words, a tired ‘once-was’ content to reflect upon past glories.
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