EU approach for Space Traffic Management gets thumbs up from other EU institutions

The Joint Communication on an EU approach for Space Traffic Management, put forward by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in February this year, has received significant endorsements by other EU institutions:  

• In its Council Conclusions, the French Council Presidency stressed the importance of STM ‘for maintaining an autonomous access to and use of outer space’ and of EU SST, the operational backbone of STM as ‘a strong basis for preserving the global rank of the Union and its Member States among space powers’.
• In its Resolution, the European Parliament highlighted that ‘the increase in space operations, the number of space actors and the unprecedented increase in satellite constellation size (…) present serious challenges that need to be addressed’ and ‘calls on the Commission to make all political and diplomatic efforts (…) to develop a comprehensive international approach’.
• In its opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee underlined that ‘management of space traffic requires that all actors are taken into account at European level’, and that ‘standards, guidelines and international best practices need to be developed’ to address the ‘patchwork of space traffic management (STM) programmes’ in the absence of international standardisation. 

All three EU bodies clearly stress the need to act and support the EU approach for Space Traffic Management. This confirms DG DEFIS’ and EEAS’ assessment and offers both services important impetus to go full steam ahead with the implementation of the ten actions along four avenues proposed in the Joint Communication. 

Background 

The Joint Communication on an EU approach for Space Traffic Management was adopted by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It proposed an EU approach to Space Traffic Management, and thereby an EU contribution to a global challenge. It outlines ten actions along four avenues to address the ever-increasing rise of space activities and space debris. 

More information 

• Joint Communication on an EU approach for Space Traffic Management
• Space Traffic Management – safeguarding space operations
• Council Conclusions on EU STM - French Presidency
• Resolution on STM - European Parliament
• Opinion on Space Package - European Economic and Social Committee
• STM_Factsheet
• STM_Leaflet