Космическа стратегия за Европа
Opinion factsheet
На тази страница:
- транспорт
- космическа политика, „Галилео“, „Коперник“
Opinion number:
CDR-6726-2016
Status:
Приети
Objective
To represent the interest of the local and regional authortiies across the EU in the development of the downstream sector regarding the services and applications based on the EU flagship programmes, especially the Copernicus.
Impact
The CoR has been accepted as an observer to the Copernicus user Forum. The rapporteur's position has found support of the ESA on key points, and regarding appropriate funding foreseen under the next MFF, recommendations of the CoR have been taken over and strengthened by the EP rapporteur. In various events and configurations of the EP activities, notably the Sky and Space Intergoup, the CoR rapporteur has developed and highlighted the local and regional interests and value added in the area of space policy, notably regarding synergies with other sectors, such as energy.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
stresses that the regional dimension is essential in bringing the benefits of space closer to users and thus putting users at the centre of a European space strategy. Local and regional authorities have the competence and willingness to be involved in the implementation of European space policy, as it also supports smart specialisation strategies in many regions;
- calls on the European Commission to ensure that long-term funding for the operation of Copernicus infrastructure is guaranteed using the EU budget in future, in order to guarantee both financial viability and transparency and democratic oversight of the funding;
- calls for new ways of funding to be sought for the development and large-scale use of applications, involving the Structural Funds and the banks and in collaboration with the ESA. Given the problems with the financing of investment in research and development projects, it is worth improving the financing of research projects carried out in collaboration with research and development institutes and economic operators;
- strongly supports the request of the European Parliament for a comprehensive Communication Strategy about the benefits of space technologies for citizens and business;
- could provide more effective support to the implementation and execution of the Copernicus programme at local and regional level if it was a full permanent member of the programme's user forum and could send an official representative to that forum. This would take account of the importance of local actors in terms of the use of Copernicus data;
- underlines the important role of space monitoring and satellite navigation systems, such as Galileo and Copernicus, enabling a timely response to natural disasters such as earthquakes, forest fires, landslides and floods;
- calls for this to be duly reflected in the development of down-stream services for local and regional authorities. An effective space strategy is a crucial component of sustainable and resilient development, helping save lives as well as helping protect the environment and properties.