Establishing the Union secure connectivity programme for the period 2023-2027

Briefing 06-07-2022

This briefing provides an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission's impact assessment (IA) accompanying the above-mentioned proposal, adopted on 15 February 2022 and referred to the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). The proposal, which is included in the 2022 Commission work programme (see Annex I – New initiatives) and in the EU Legislative Priorities for 2022 (see the Commission's working document), seeks to establish a Union secure satellite communication system. This system would ensure highly secured connectivity and communication to the Union and Member States' governmental entities, also with a view to making sure that the EU remains connected in case of cyber-attacks, or in case of natural disasters leading to the breakdown of terrestrial communication networks (IA, pp. 10-11). In addition, the system would allow for connecting key infrastructure better, supporting crisis management, surveillance and potential mass-market broadband applications, and ensuring the provision of high-speed, flexible and resilient satellite communication services. The proposed regulation sets out the objectives of the programme, the rules governing the envisaged activities and its implementation, its infrastructure and services, the participants, the EU budget for the 2023-2027 period, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.