ESP governance

EC vice president, Antonio Tajani together with ESA director general, Jean-Jacques Dordain

European Space Policy activities are coordinated under the EU-ESA Framework Agreement . This agreement set up a ministerial level Space Council, an EC-ESA Joint Secretariat, as well as a high level space policy group to develop the joint European Space Policy.

The agreement also laid the groundwork for joint projects, common management structures and other activities. The European Space Agency will continue to address a variety of space R&D areas, e.g. launcher development, space science, earth observation, satellite communication and navigation, human space flight and exploration, while the European Commission will mainly concentrate on space applications to support its various policies and lead the overall coordination of the European Space Policy.

Europe has successfully developed its existing cooperative space programme over the past 35 years, primarily through ESA. Today this intergovernmental agency counts 18 member countries in its activities including two (Norway and Switzerland) outside the EU. It is anticipated that more EU countries will participate in ESA activities in the coming years.

The EU-ESA Framework Agreement has provided significant advances in the working arrangements between the European Commission and ESA, and with the member countries in policy development.