EU Presidency Statement - Peaceful uses of outer space

Mr President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and Norway, EFTA country member of the European Economic Area, endorse this statement

Mr President,

The European Union has noted with great interest the report of the forty-fourth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space held in Vienna last June. As is the case every year, the report is a valuable tool that allows us an overview of the issue of the peaceful uses of outer space. On this occasion, I would also like to commend the Office for Space Affairs for the excellent and committed work realized this year.

First of all, Mr President, the European Union welcomes the active implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). The European Union welcomes as well the innovative organization of that implementation that displays the necessary pragmatism. We note that the concerns expressed at the Conference have given rise to a large number of new projects and new initiatives throughout the world. Moreover, this vast programme calls for all our energies to be mobilized so that the developing countries can take part in it and benefit from access to technologies and advances relating to the exploitation and peaceful use of space.

Mr President,

The European Union is delighted by the progresses accomplished by the Comity since last year concerning the worrying questions of spatial debris. The Scientific and Technical subcommittee agreed on an ambitious working plan that will allow the Committee to submit to the General Assembly a set of concrete propositions for 2004. To the Legal subcommittee, the European Center for Space Law will present next year the results of a study it will carry on concerning the legal aspects of that question. The European Union considers that a debate on the problems caused by spatial debris in international law deserves henceforth to be added without further delay to the agenda of the Legal subcommittee.

The Union's space policy is a policy of innovation concentrated upon applications for the good of society. The GALILEO programme, launched in 1999, in cooperation with the European Space Agency, is one of the best examples. It involves an autonomous civilian satellite navigation system compatible and inter-operable with the GPS, providing a variety of services, including consumer applications.

In the framework of its space policy, the European Union is convinced of the strategic importance of the GMES programme (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), also launched in cooperation with the European Space Agency. It should help to achieve a better knowledge of and greater control over climate changes and the degradation of natural resources and to prevent and manage natural and industrial disasters. The GMES programme provides cross-sectoral backup for a number of European policies, such as agriculture or the environment, for example, and the European Union aims to reach a consensus on the launching of this project at European level.

Mr President,

One of the questions addressed by the Committee is a highly topical one, namely the ways and means of using space for peaceful purposes. Several comments highlighted by the Committee's report seem to us to indicate some development in this respect. It is worth pointing out that international law places strict limits on the use of outer space for military purposes. This question needs to be examined closely by all the bodies concerned within their respective competence. We would like to underline that the Disarmament Conference must be fully active in this matter.

Mr President,

The European Union supports the Committee in its efforts to strengthen the international basis for the exploitation and peaceful use of space, including the development of international space law and, where appropriate, the drawing up of international agreements on the various practical and peaceful applications of space science and technology. We also urge the Committee to promote the acceptance of the UN treaties concerning space.

The European Union is pleased to see that a growing number of inter-governmental organizations as well as non-governmental organizations and private companies are asking to take part in the Committee's work. The report rightly notes that the Committee's efforts to give renewed impetus to its activities have been successful.

Mr President,

Space must be used in peace and for peace. The European Union will continue its efforts, in the context of international space cooperation and in the relevant UN bodies, to implement the principles of international space law, and also the recommendations made in this area, such as those made by the UNISPACE III Conference.

Thank you, Mr President.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Draft resolution on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (27/10/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (7/10/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Peaceful uses of outer space (16/10/2000)