Esa Bulletin June 1999 [antikvár]

Lesa bulletin 98 june 1999The Brussels Council at Ministerial LevelLord SainsburyThe 141st meeting of the Council of the European Space Agency, and the eighth at Ministerial Level, took place on 11 and 12 May at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels, Belgium hosted the meeting at the invitation of Mr Yvan Ylieff, the Belgian Minister for Science Policy and Chairman of the previous Council Meeting at Ministerial Level. During the opening session, Mr Ylieff handed over the Chair to Lord David Sainsbury, the UK Minister responsible for space. In addition to the 13 European Ministers and representatives of the Irish and Canadian Ministers present, representatives from Portugal, the European Commission, Eutelsat, Eumetsat and the European Space Science Committee attended as observers. Three European Commissioners - for Industry, Research and Transport - also participated in the meeting.The main objective of this Ministerial Council was to shape a space policy that will allow Europe to continue to play a major role In space activities on the world stage. The Ministers responsible for space activities in the Agency's Member States were asked to endorse ESA's new strategy and its role in working with national players, Intergovernmental organisations, European Union institutions and Industry In order to respond to the challenges of the next millennium. They were also asked to decide, in the context of ESA's Long-Term Plan for the period 1999-2006, on new programmes spanning the fields of space science, access to space (launchers), space applications (Earth observation, telecommunications and navigation), exploitation of the International Space Station and advanced technology. They were also called upon to decide on a Level of Resources for the period 1999-2003 for the Agency's Mandatory Activities.In the event, the Ministers approved the Level of Resources for the period 1999-2002 (essentially the General Budget and the Science Programme budget) to a total of 2103.2 MEuro (at 1998 economic conditions). This should hopefully enable ESA to Implement all of Its planned scientific missions.There is an urgent need to ensure strategic Independence for Europe In the field of satellite navigation. The Ministers therefore decided to commit 58.4 MEuro until end-2001 for the definition phase of the Galileo programme being developed in cooperation with the European Union, and even indicated the availability of 178 MEuro for the subsequent development phase (until end-2006). As a result, aircraft, ships, trucks, trains, cars and ambulances will soon be guided and easily located via a constellation of European satellites. Most Importantly, Europe will now be able to access the huge markets for navigation-related ground equipment and services.The Ministers also recognised that European industry needs to increase its share of the worldwide telecommunications market. They therefore allocated 260 MEuro (for the period 1999-2002) to the development of multimedia and information systems, and 30 MEuro for preliminary studies of future systems In the period 2000-2005. Tele-medicine and tele-education are but two examples of the new fields in which space can help improve our quality of life.Because space offers Europe a unique opportunity for contributing to worldwide efforts towards understanding our environment and managing the natural resources of our planet, the Ministers decided to fund the Living Planet programme, with a commitment of 593 MEuro through to the end of 2002.Europe also wants to be a strong and valued partner in the International Space Station. The Ministers therefore allocated 298.5 MEuro to the Station's exploitation for the period 2000-2001. Moreover, the Ministers recognised the importance of continuity In the European Microgravity Research Programme and approved the extension of the EMIR-2 programme for the period 1999-2003, allocating 48 MEuro.To safeguard Europe's independent access to space and its leading position in the