Crisis in the European Space Industry

Brussels, 15 May 2003

Motions for resolutions on the ministerial meeting of the European Space Agency of May 2003

Doc.: B5-0246/2003, B5-0250/2003, B5-0251/2003, B5-0259/2003, B5-0260/2003

Debate: 14.05.2003

Vote: 15.05.2003

Given the unprecedented crisis in the EU's space industry, arising variously from increased international demand for launchers, stagnation in commercial launching requirements and the structural weakness of the European institutional market, in this resolution MEPs underline the need to guarantee that the EU has independent access to space via the mastery and development of the appropriate technologies.

Secondly, MEPs are concerned about the financing of Galileo - the European Satellite system, indeed, the House urges the Member States concerned to overcome their differences and put the common interest first, to ensure that a final decision is reached on the financing and management of the GALILEO programme, enabling it to be rapidly implemented in tandem with the relaunch of the European launcher Ariane 5G.

Finally, as far as the powers of the Union are concerned, MEPs welcome the presence of the European space objective in the present text of Article 3 of the draft constitutional treaty drawn up by the Convention on the Future of Europe, and believe that the European space policy should be included among the competences shared by the Union and the Member States.

Press enquiries: Richard Freedman (Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73785 (Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 41448 e-mail :   rfreedman@europarl.eu.int& Press enquiries: Klaus Hullmann (Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 73781 (Brussels)  tel.(32-2) 28 42518 e-mail :   indu-press@europarl.eu.int

European Parliament Daily Notebook 0515