Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-01-16-Speech-3-225"
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"en.20020116.15.3-225"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur for this report, which indicates the way forward that will enable us to open up a new phase in European space policy. I wanted to speak about space today because this is a subject close to my heart and because I am lucky enough to live in Toulouse, where, as Mr Radwan said, everything is connected to aeronautics and space. Two of the world’s largest sub-contractors in the space industry are based in Toulouse and much of the work of the European Space Agency in France is carried out in the National Centre for Space Studies.
We all know that satellites are used for the protection and observation of our environment, for risk prevention and for the defence of our territory and are playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives. The benefits of a coordinated space policy are therefore important to us and have already enabled progress to be made in cooperation. As several Members have already said, we must now step up a gear and put in place a genuine European policy. As Mrs Langenhagen said, in an area where it has immense potential, the European Union must acquire the resources that make success possible.
However, the fact that no decisions have been taken on the future of the Galileo European satellite navigation project is a regrettable example of what we must avoid. Considerable investment has already been made and we cannot allow ourselves to take this amount of time before reaching an agreement, because we lose a little more credibility each time this happens. But, I know, as all of us in this House know, that you, Commissioner, are making every effort to bring this project to fruition.
In March, the Transport Council is due to take a decision on the future of Galileo and Parliament must bring to bear its full weight so that this decision can be reached.
At the Laeken European Council, the representatives of the Member States pledged to make the common security and defence policy more operational. As the report points out, if space activities are to be intended only for peaceful purposes, this can include military uses for peace-keeping activities, as requested in the amendment tabled by Mr Chichester and Mr Radwan on behalf of the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats.
How can it be feasible for the European Union to develop a common defence policy if it does not make available the technical resources for this domain?
Ladies and gentlemen, we must draw up a realistic and consistent framework for our space policy. The protection of the environment, the security of our people and the preservation of peace all depend on this."@en1
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