European space policy and satellite applications

Recommendation 507 (1968)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly Debate on 29th January 1968 (14th Sitting) (see Doc. 2304, report of the Committee on Science and Technology). Text adopted by the Assembly on 29th January 1968 (14th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Recalling its earlier recommendations stressing the urgency of establishing an overall co-ordinated European Space Policy and of proceeding with the amalgamation of the present European space bodies ;

2. Welcoming the positive and thorough reply of the Committee of Ministers to Recommendation 495 on European Space Policy and trusting that the competent national authorities and the international organisations concerned will give effect to the proposals of the Committee of Ministers ;

A. European Space Conference

3. Taking note of the report of the President of the 2nd European Space Conference and welcoming the decision to continue the work on a European communications satellite programme ;

4. Noting with satisfaction the determination of the European Space Conference to supervise the activities of the European space organisations by deciding that the Committee of Alternates, the Study Committee and the Co-ordinating Committee shall be placed under the aegis of the Space Conference ; and hoping that in due course a complete amalgamation of the space organisations will take place ;

5. Regretting however that, eight years after the start of European efforts to establish the first European space policy organisation, no decision has been taken on a co-ordinated overall European space policy and no firm proposals made for the amalgamation of the European space organisations, and that work seems to have come to a halt on the Large Astronomical Satellite Project (LAS) ;

6. Considering that the 3rd European Space Conference should meet in good time before the first part of the 20th Session of the Assembly in May 1968 in order that, on the basis of the report to be ready by December 1967 of the Advisory Committee on Programmes set up by the Space Conference, and taking into consideration the texts adopted by the Assembly concerning space questions, it may at long last come to an agreement on a co-ordinated European space policy ;

London Conference on Telecommunications, Summer 1967

7. Noting with satisfaction the proposal made at the London Conference on European Co-operation in Telecommunications to call at regular intervals a European Conference of Ministers responsible for Telecommunications and the proposal that users and customers of telecommunications should establish broadly representative user organisations ; and urging member Governments to give favourable consideration to the first proposal and Members of Parliament and other interested parties to act on the second proposal ;

Recent initiatives on satellite applications

8. Taking note of plans and recent initiatives with respect to satellite applications

(i) Telecommunications satellites

9. Conscious of the urgency at this stage of agreeing in the first instance on a common European posture with regard to the Intelsat negotiations in 1969 ; and believing that an outcome of these negotiations, beneficial for Europe, depends decisively on Europe having adequate capacity in the design, manufacture and launching of telecommunications satellites ;

(ii) Meteorological satellites

10. Recalling the great human, scientific, technological, industrial and economic importance of the establishment and functioning of the World Weather Watch ; notes with satisfaction that European Governments have in principle agreed to its establishment ;

11. Confident that member Governments will take steps to ensure the early operation and financing of the World Weather Watch ;

12. Stressing the importance of the World Weather Watch as a prospective customer for European-built satellites and launchers ; and hoping that member Governments will instruct the appropriate European space bodies to start a general marketing and sales campaign for their products ;

(iii) Educational and cultural satellites

13. Welcoming the work of the Council for Cultural Co-operation of the Council of Europe with respect to the application of satellites for educational and cultural purposes ; hopes that the space organisations, in co-operation with the educational authorities concerned, will take such applications into consideration in a European satellites programme

14. Desirous of contributing to bringing an end to the present stalemate in European space affairs,

15. Recommends to the Committee of Ministers :

I to take the necessary steps to ensure that :

a Member Governments convene the 3rd European Space Conference in good time before the first part of the 20th Session of the Assembly in May 1968 ;

b Member Governments instruct their representatives to the 3rd European Space Conference

c to see to it that agreement is reached on a common European posture for the Intelsat negotiations in 1969 ; and,

d to lay down an overall coordinated European space policy in which priority be given to the execution of a European satellite programme aimed in the first place at the construction and launching of communications and meteorological satellites ;

II. to invite member Governments to take the necessary steps to ensure the early operation of the World Weather Watch, which is not only valuable in itself but could also be an important customer for European-built satellites and launchers, the sale of which should be vigorously promoted ;

III. to invite member Governments to support the proposal for regular meetings of European Ministers responsible for telecommunications, possibly on the pattern of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport ;

IV. to invite the Council for Cultural Co-operation to present a phased plan for the application of satellites for educational and cultural purposes.