Recommendation 765
(1975)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 2 October 1975 (11th Sitting) (see Doc. 3655, report of the Committee on Science and Technology). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 1975 (11th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Recalling
Recommendation 251 (1960), proposing the setting up of a "European Space Agency to undertake a space programme based on a space vehicle developed and built in Europe", and subsequent recommendations, in particular
Recommendation 727 (1974), unanimously adopted by the Assembly in January 1974 ;
2. Expressing its satisfaction that, after fifteen years of persistent pressure from European
parliamentarians, some European governments have agreed to the establishment of the European
Space Agency (ESA) ;
3. Welcoming the agreement on an overall European space policy, including the internationalisation
of national programmes into a European space programme, the construction of the Ariane launcher
and the continuation of the Kourou launching site, the development of operational communications,
maritime navigation, air traffic control, and meteorological satellites, European participation in the
post-Apollo programme through construction of Spacelab, and the continuation and development of a
scientific satellite programme ;
4. Noting with satisfaction that these programmes make European space policy, as requested by the
Assembly over the last ten years, primarily application-oriented, while until recently it was
predominantly scientifically-oriented ;
5. Hoping that the establishment of the European Space Agency can make an effective contribution to
European scientific, technological, industrial and political integration, and also foster increased
Atlantic co-operation ;
6. Noting with great satisfaction the agreement at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of 30 May 1975, at which the Council of Europe was present as the only international organisation, to the effect that ESA will communicate its annual report to the Council of Europe, thereby, as stated in
Recommendation 251 (1960), ensuring "the parliamentary influence of this Assembly" ;
7. Noting that membership in ESA includes Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom ;
8. Hoping that further member countries of the Council of Europe will also become members of or
associated with ESA ;
9. Determined to undertake steps in national parliaments to assure the ratification of the ESA
Convention before 31 December 1975 ;
10. Recalling its appeals for an industrial policy, for finding markets, especially in the developing
countries, for European space products, and believing that these areas, as well as the organisation of
European operational systems and their relationship to other international systems, should be given
priority in the near future,
11. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite the member governments concerned :
to proceed to the ratification of the ESA Convention before 31 December 1975 ;
to meet in the ESA Council at ministerial level at least once a year ;
to use ESA for the co-ordination of European space policy in such organisations as the United
Nations, Intelsat, the World Meteorological Organisation, the International Telecommunications
Union and Unesco ;
together with the Agency, to give priority to the formulation of an industrial policy, the
organisation of operational application satellite systems and their relations to other international
systems, a market analysis followed by a market strategy, the definition of Europe's collaboration not
only with the US in the space shuttle system, but also in any future new systems undertaken by the
USA or by any other country ;
12. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite the governments of Council of Europe
member states which are not yet members of ESA to consider the possibility of full or associated
membership of the Agency.
