1st General Report of the European Space Research Organisation
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly Debate on 25th January 1967 (21st Sitting) (see Doc. 2164, report of the Cultural and Scientific Committee, and Doc. 2165, Opinion of the Economic Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25th January 1967 (21st Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Noting the 1st General Report 1964-65 of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO),
Doc. 2091 ;
2. Recalling that the Council of Europe's relationship with ESRO is less formal than that with the European Space Vehicle Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), and regretting that its basis (Resolution X of the Paris Conference of 1962) is not mentioned in
Doc. 2091 ;
3. Noting that, despite the problems usually encountered by newly-created international organisations (to which have been added several unexpected setbacks), ESRO has made progress within its terms of reference ;
4. Recalling however the recent ELDO crisis due to cost escalation, and observing that ESRO also is encountering difficulties arising from the fact that both costs, and time-schedules - particularly as regards the Large Astronomical Satellite Project (LAS) - have been considerably underestimated ;
5. Referring to
Recommendation 477 (1967), setting out principles which member Governments ought to take into account in the elaboration of a general European Space Policy ;
6. Convinced that greater dynamism and effectiveness could be infused into ESRO's activities by integrating them into a single European Space Authority corresponding, at the European level, to the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
7. Resolves, with this policy-aim in view, to invite :
a the ESRO authorities henceforth to :
publish their annual reports simultaneously with those of ELDO (and if possible of the European Conference on Satellite Communications, CETS) and in any case not later than three months after the end of the period covered by each such report ;
detail annually in such reports the progress being made towards strengthening collaboration with the aims and work programmes of ELDO and CETS ;
take measures to strengthen and develop techniques for making accurate project-cost estimates and for preventing the uncontrolled escalation of such costs ;
b the Governments of the member States of ESRO to :
take the necessary steps to ensure an efficient space science programme of ESRO ;
put substantial emphasis on applied space research and technology for practical non-military purposes when considering the future programme of ESRO ;
facilitate co-operation between ESRO and other European space organisations (both governmental and non-governmental), taking into account paragraph 10 of Recommendation 477 (1967) on European Space Policy.
