French EU Presidency can rely on #EUSpace to support its priorities
Since 1st January 2022, France holds the reins of the EU Council Presidency. The priorities for the French Presidency involve the EU space activities, underlining the need for a more sovereign and humane Europe, with sustainable economic growth and job opportunities.
After six months at the helm of the EU, Slovenia passed on the baton of the EU Council Presidency to France, which will preside until June 30th. France begins a new cycle and will work as a trio with the Czech Republic in the second half of 2022 and Sweden in the first half of 2023. During his opening speech at the Palais de l’Elysée on December 9th, 2021, President Macron presented the three axes around which the French Presidency will be spinning for the following six months : European sovereignty, a new European model of growth, and a more human Europe.
The French President outlined the pillars that will support the priorities, and new technologies such as EU space data and services are central to their delivery.
EU Space equals sovereignty
With the launch of the first Galileo satellite in 2011, Europe demonstrated its technological autonomy, but also redefined the international standards for global navigation satellite systems. Galileo offers superior performance and a broad range of value-adding services. Ten years later, cognizant of the strategic importance of space, the Union created its own, fully-fledged space programme to further boost its sovereignty.
Should existing satellite navigation services be disrupted or become less reliable, Europe has its state-of-the-art positioning system to act as a backup. Galileo, currently used by over 2.5 billion users, keeps the European economy up and running but – above all- ensures the safety of its citizens.
Unique features of Galileo, such as the Public Regulated Service (PRS), scheduled for Initial Capability Operations in 2023, will give an extra layer of security to governmental authorised users and sensitive applications that require high continuity.
Satellite navigation services are further enhanced by Copernicus. Data from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites and in situ data collected from ground-based, sea-borne, or air-borne monitoring systems provide precious insights to national governments and EU policymakers on climate change, for instance. Soon, the EU will bridge gaps in satellite communications with GOVSATCOM. The objective of the GOVSATCOM initiative is to ensure the long-term availability of reliable, secured, and cost-effective satellite communication (satcom) services to its users. Paving the way towards a new satcom solution for governmental applications, the initiative will benefit a broad range of EU and national entities in their day-to-day operations, and contribute to the security and safety of all EU citizens.
EU Space for a renewed European model
Space data and services are invisible infrastructures but generate a dearth of tangible benefits to Europeans daily. The EU Space Programme is becoming the basis for the construction of a new EU model of strategic growth that…
…spurs innovation and creates jobs
Over the past years, EUSPA created a vibrant ecosystem of startups and SMEs that rely on EU space technology to add value to their operations. Most companies are now scaling up, attracting new talents across Europe. From Galileo-enabled drones that perform atmospheric analysis to robotic solutions for pest management, EUSPA has been steering EU funds and knowhow to develop space downstream applications.
…digitizes and greens the economy
Space enables us to rethink the way we produce and consume. The combination of Earth Observation and GNSS data, for example, enables various industries such as agribusiness to operate in an eco-friendlier way. Farmers are able to allocate resources such as water or fertilizers more responsibly thanks to the accurate guidance offered by Galileo and EGNOS and the information on soil fertility from Copernicus. Thanks to the cooperation between the EU Space assets, it is estimated that EU farmers can save up to 20% of pesticides and fertilisers.
Satellite-based remote sensing from Copernicus is a cost-effective solution that keeps an eye on clean energy infrastructures, offering precious information on their integrity and targeted maintenance. Geospatial data by the EU Earth Observation system are used to enable better planning of these assets by offering greater situational awareness and helping mitigate risks such as vegetation encroachment on power grids and turbines. Moreover, Copernicus can optimize the performance of tidal power generators, by offering data on the rise and fall of tides through tidal currents prediction systems.
…promotes collaboration between the Member States
A revisited EU model of growth requires robust synergies between various industrial and institutional actors but, above all EU Member States. To harness the power of our space assets knowledge-sharing is pivotal. EUSPA and the European Commission have put in place various initiatives such as Horizon Europe and Fundamental Elements to boost collaboration between EU countries.
As of now, over 400 events are set to take place as part of the presidency’s programme. The first, space-related event is scheduled on February 16 -17, 2022 in Toulouse and EUSPA will be present.
Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).
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