industry information > space systems and services > Europe in space

Europe is moving towards increasingly ambitious goals in space which have resulted in bringing the European Space Agency and the European Commission closer together, and the publication of a European Space Policy document calling for a closer integration of space policy into EU security and other key priorities.

Central are two major programmes, in which the UK has a strong position, and UKISC has been leading the industrial lobby, namely:

• Galileo - the European Satellite Navigation programme

• GMES - the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme.

The EC has stated that it spent some ?230 million on space programmes in 2004, and EU governments are already negotiating for the EU budgetary package for 2007-2013. This accelerating space activity presents major opportunities for the UK to gain real benefits - not just in terms of industrial return, but also in the commercial exploitation of new and innovative services to the benefit of the wider economy.

However, this is a time-limited opportunity as other EU nations rush to consolidate their national positions.