Brussels, 23 Jun 2003
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has added its voice to calls for space to be included in the European constitution as a shared competence.
The committee's June plenary session saw a report by French representative Stéphane Buffetot adopted unanimously. The report suggests that Europe's position in the space sector will depend on the strength of its political commitment and the clarity of its budget decisions.
'The introduction of a shared and/or parallel competence for the space sector in the future European constitutional treaty would provide the European Union with the political, legislative and financial means to define and implement a strong space policy which would guarantee autonomous access to space for Europe,' reads a statement by the EESC.
The committee remains, however, unconvinced that the EU has the 'political will and economic clout' to maintain its autonomy and remain among the elite in the space sector, and hopes to see evidence to the contrary in the future.
For further information on the EESC, please consult the following web address:
http://www.ces.eu.int/index.htm