From our correspondent in PARIS
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“The space sector is everywhere,” according to Emmanuel Macron. “We must act as one Europe,” according to Ursula von der Leyen. The French president and the president of the EU Commission, together at the International Space Summit in Paris, outlined a unified strategy aimed at the strategic independence of the Union without forgetting to involve external partners. Even at the risk of falling into some potential contradictions, as when the French head of state explained that “this summit wants to send a message of power and dialogue.”
Europe and France then present themselves as partners who, due to their political and economic strength, can be leaders in an increasingly important sector: “The space economy should almost triple by 2035, rising from 630 billion to about 1,800 billion,” said von der Leyen, who recalled how programs like Galileo and Copernicus (important in supporting civil protection during recent fires and the flooding in Nepal) “have become global public goods.”
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To “stay at the forefront,” she warned, “Europe must act together.” The call for Union unity was a constant in the president’s speech: “Adequate-sized investments are needed,” she said, recalling that the EU long-term budget provides 131 billion in funding for defense, security, and space. The call for unity involves the creation of “a single market for satellite communications,” with frequency allocation managed at the European level, through the EU Space Act; and the birth of “industrial champions,” for which von der Leyen gave the example of Bromo, a joint venture between Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo operational from next year.
The invasion of Ukraine also suggests unity. “We see signals of navigation disturbed and falsified, with consequences on civil flights; cyberattacks on satellite networks that disable critical infrastructures; and drones flying over our airspace using technologies dependent on satellite navigation systems. The message is clear,” she said. The European space shield initiative “strengthens – she added – our capabilities, with better situational awareness and greater defenses against jamming and spoofing, through joint action to fill critical gaps, from early warning from space to the protection of our satellites.” “Europe – the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius virtually echoed – supports peaceful and responsible use of space, international law, transparency, and clear rules. We Germans love rules, but they can be violated; alone, they will not protect freedom and peace. Capabilities will do that.”
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