The Role Of European Regions In The EU Space Policy
- Paper number
IAC-07-E6.1.08
- Author
Dr. Marianna Morelli, CORILA Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities Concerning the Venice Lagoon System, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Pierpaolo Campostrini, CORILA Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities Concerning the Venice Lagoon System, Italy
- Year
2007
- Abstract
At the beginning of the 21st century the development of international law is characterized by the globalization and in Europe by a stronger process of integration within the European Union. An essential aspect of the new era is a certain decline of State authority from their conventional role in international relations and an increase of the importance of various new actors on the international scene. These changes have also affected the space sector. Today European Space Policy carries the promise of substantial economic social benefits for the enlarged Union and its citizens and brings new qualities to its external relations especially in the fields of security, environment and development. On this basis, after 50 years of European achievements in the development of space science and technologies, Europe is now moving towards space applications, which have opened new markets especially in the field of telecommunications, positioning systems and earth observation. The Space Policy White Paper of 2003, as well as the future Treaty establishing an European Constitution, states that space should become a shared competences between the Union and its member States. The critical point today is to maintain expertise, to acquire new skills, to support technologies and infrastructures and increase the use of space applications. In this stage of European space policy construction, the involvement of the regional dimension can represent a fundamental gear in order to collect users’ requirements. Despite the different areas of competences and the different functions granted to the regional entities, most European regional governments deal with a number of issues in areas linked to the environment, emergency and security, agricultural and fishery management, air quality monitoring, integrated management of coastal areas as well the economic development and the promotion of innovation systems. In line with these reflections, the European regional authorities launched the idea of a permanent Conference of European Regions Using Space Technologies. This initiative is to be considered a new form of cooperation in Europe. Regional governments represent the new players in outer space in an environment previously ruled only by national governments, the European Union and the European Space Agency. The aim of this paper is to review the course of the initiative and to analyse this new form of cooperation within the frame of international space law taking into particular account the 1996 UN Declaration on Cooperation for Space Benefits. Therefore it will focus on this new approach to the governance of space activities in Europe with the attempt to explain why the European Regions take more and more specific interest in space matters.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E6.1.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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