Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-10-08-Speech-3-109"

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"en.20031008.10.3-109"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, few but honourable Members, however important the development of the space policy of the European Union is, its orientation is equally important. Despite the initial proclamations about the use of space for peaceful purposes in the direction of development, knowledge and applications, direct or indirect references to military use have been multiplying recently, to the point at which it is clear that it is this use that mainly interests the European Union. This orientation is also clear from the European Commission's Green Paper and from the STAR 21 report and from the meeting organised by the Greek Presidency in Athens on 8 and 9 May on the subject of ‘Security and Defence Aspects of Space’. Militarisation is being promoted both in order to serve what we see as the aggressive common defence and security policy and on the pretext that it is the only way to strengthen the aerospace industry with public funding. Admittedly, this industry is under intense pressure from its competitors. Perhaps, however, its problems originate in the promotion of corporate profit as the driving force, in liberalism, competitiveness and the free market which prohibit non-military public aid? Although the report by the Committee on Industry which we are examining contains a series of correct findings and proposals, such as acknowledging the role of the European Space Agency, the reference to the need to promote research and international cooperation, however, adopts the military use of space and goes too far. Thus, not only does it praise the proposal to set up a European Agency for Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities, but it goes as far as reiterating ‘the valuable role which the military use of satellite systems can play in peacekeeping operations’. What peacekeeping operations does it mean? Perhaps the continuing murderous attacks against Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq? The involvement of the European Union in the further militarisation of space is a severe blow for peace because it brings it to the same level of responsibilities as the United States in the military competition race. Finally, it would be a very negative development for science and the peoples if the European Space Agency which, as a transnational organisation at the level of the European continent makes a huge contribution to the development of space science and research, were to become the agency of those pursuing military objectives. For these reasons, ladies and gentlemen, I call on you not to strengthen this move."@en1

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