Recommendation 677
(1972)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 19 October 1972 (11th Sitting) (see Doc. 3182, report of the Committee on Science and Technology) Text adopted by the Assembly on 19 October 1972 (11th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Recalling its continuous and vigorous efforts during the last twelve years in favour of an overall and coherent European space programme ;
2. Convinced that such a programme, including the construction of application satellites, the development of a launcher and participation in the post-Apollo programme, is not an expensive luxury, but a necessary part of Europe's technological and industrial development, with important implications for social and economic welfare ;
3. Noting the declining trend of Atlantic partnership as shown by the gradual decrease in the US offer for European participation in the post-Apollo programme, the US refusal to accept the previously agreed financial and technological 50-50 partnership in Aerosat, and the continued American refusal to make a firm commitment regarding American launch facilities for European application satellites ;
4. Believing, nevertheless, that this is to a considerable extent attributable to the lack of a coherent European space policy, and in particular to the lack of a positive and dynamic response on the part of European governments to the US offer for European participation in the post-Apollo programme ;
5. Observing that the US invitation to Europe to make use of the space shuttle system, to participate in payload development and to contract the sortie module still holds good,
6. Takes note of the agreement on a European application satellite programme until 1980, but regrets that governments have not so far solved the crucial problem of the availability of launchers ;
7. Welcomes the decision to give to the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) Secretariat greater direct authority over the aerospace industry in the placing of contracts and in controlling the integration of the various elements in the launcher, and expresses the hope that this will ensure the success of any future Europa II launching ;
8. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite governments of member States :
8.1 to elaborate, in the context of an overall European scientific research and technological development policy, a coherent and unified European space programme ;
8.2 to ensure that such a programme is centrally directed, and that the activities of participating organisations are closely co-ordinated ;
8.3 to continue the development of the Europa series of launchers, while ensuring the availability for as long as necessary of launchers from other sources ;
8.4 to negotiate as a matter of priority the conditions for European participation in the post-Apollo programme, taking into account the importance of scientific and technological reciprocity, and of political relations between Europe and the USA ;
8.5 to adopt a policy towards the Intelsat and Aerosat negotiations which reflects the great political importance of cooperation on a basis of equality.
