Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 8 June 2016 - Strasbourg

Space capabilities for European security and defence (A8-0151/2016 - Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski)

  Therese Comodini Cachia (PPE), in writing. ‒ I reckon that security environment is becoming increasingly dangerous and challenging, both within and outside the Union, characterised by terrorist attacks and mass murder which affects all Member States and to which Member States must respond by adopting a joint strategy and a coordinated response.

I support the call for an EU Common Security and Defence Policy to make it a more effective policy instrument and a real guarantee of the safety of EU citizens and the promotion and protection of European norms, interests and values. This will enhance its cooperation and coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and with the United States, which both remain warrantors of Europe’s security and stability, with the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the African Union, and other neighbours and regional partners.

I also consider that Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) should become an EU programme with its own budget while ensuring that the funds for ongoing projects are not thereby reduced because I believe the EU should develop a more holistic space situational awareness (SSA) capacity with more predictive capabilities.