Funding for EU space policy
10.6.2016
Question for written answer E-004775-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Karol Karski (ECR)
Space policy is a response to three types of challenge currently facing the EU:
- —a social challenge: citizens' well-being depends on space policy in areas such as environmental protection, public security and civil protection, humanitarian aid, transport and the information society;
- —an economic challenge: space activities are a source of new knowledge, new products and new forms of industrial cooperation. They drive innovation, competitiveness, economic growth and job creation;
- —a strategic challenge: space activities confirm the EU's position as one of the main actors on the international stage and help to maintain its economic and political independence.
In this context, adequate funding for EU space policy needs to be guaranteed. Currently, it is focused on developing existing programmes, including Galileo and Copernicus. By avoiding entirely new initiatives, the EU is excluding the possibility of the new Member States actively participating — they are only now taking their first steps in space policy — and favouring the countries of the old Union.
1. Does the Commission intend to launch new programmes to involve the new Member States to a greater extent?
2. How will the Commission ensure that spending on space programmes is more fairly distributed between the old and new EU countries?
3. How does the Commission intend to encourage the new Member States to participate more actively in EU space policy?