Research Commissioner Busquin says Space Policy critical to European defense

Speaking at a conference on ‘European Security and Space’ in Brussels on 19 March 2003, Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said that space-based observation, communication and navigation systems represent exceptional tools for the construction and reinforcement of the European Union, in particular with respect to European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP).

A common ESDP will complete the process of European integration, giving the Union the ability to decide and act autonomously, mobilising both civil and military forces in crisis management and conflict prevention. The ‘Petersberg tasks’, outlined in the Petersberg Declaration of 19 June 1992, include those tasks for which, under a common European defence policy, European states would make military resources available. They are:

• Humanitarian and rescue tasks;
• Peace-keeping tasks;
• Tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking.

“The ESDP will give Europe the capacity to act on a global scale to carry out the Petersberg tasks,” said Busquin. “But the ESDP cannot be achieved without a European Space Policy. The Iraqi crisis reinforces my conviction that the EU needs an increased degree of independence in the space field. We have, on the political level, a responsibility and a duty towards European citizens to ensure the best conditions for their security and that of the generations to come.”

Europe must hold its own

In his speech, Busquin described the current situation in European space and defence policy, warning of an increasing imbalance between European and American investment.

“To redress this imbalance,” he said, “Europe must develop a more coherent and structured approach to research in the field of security. If China can send men into space at the end of this year, I do not see why Europe cannot develop advanced space tools in support of its own political objectives. Defining European ambitions in space is what the current Green Paper process is all about.

“Today there is no operational space-based military system serving European policy. Moreover, existing systems serving various national policies are redundant and incompatible. Therefore, not only is Europe investing less than its competitors, but also its investments are inefficient and wasteful.

“The good news is that these issues are now beginning to be addressed. The European Advisory Group on Aerospace, made up of high-level personalities from the political and industrial world, has presented a document on the current situation in the aerospace field. This ‘STAR 21 ‘ report, recommends that the Union develop a satellite-based defence and security capacity on a European scale.”

Space and the Future European Treaty

According to Busquin, the European Convention , the body charged with preparing the next Treaty of the Union, recently presented a first outline of the future Treaty that includes a specific reference to space activities. In addition, the European Convention working group on defence has recommended the creation of a European Agency for Armament and Strategic Research whose competence would extend to the development of space-based military systems.

Commission taking action

“For our part,” said Busquin, “the Commission has recently adopted a Communication , entitled, ‘European defence – industrial and market issues: towards an EU defence equipment policy’, which expounds the long-term need for a competitive European defence industry in support of an ESDP.”

In the field of security-related research, the Commission will ask Member States, industry and the scientific community to identify common needs and to share knowledge and resources to develop technologies likely to play a role in long-term European security. The Commission will launch a preparatory action to coordinate this research, concentrating on a limited number of concrete technologies necessary for the realisation of the Petersburg tasks and the ESDP.

“It is vital that we continue to move forward on two parallel levels,” said Busquin, “on the politico-institutional level, but also on concrete technological projects. I am convinced that with European programmes, such as GALILEO and GMES , as well as with the presentation of the Space White Paper later this year, we are moving in the right direction.”