During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: extracts from the debate (27/04) and from the vote. Statements by Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), Rapporteur, Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), Carlos ZORRINHO (S&D, PT), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR) and Niklas NIENASS (Greens/EFA, DE).

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

vote

ZORRINHO, Carlos (S&D, PT)

NIEBLER, Angelika (EPP, DE)

SALINI, Massimiliano (EPP, IT)

European space industry (T)

GRUDLER, Christophe (Renew, FR)

BRETON, Thierry (FR, EC)

EU space programme 2021-2027 (T)

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: extracts from the debate (27/04) - extracts from the Lex signing ceremony

Title: Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: extracts from the debate (27/04) and from the vote (EBS)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), Rapporteur, It means, for Europe, to no longer be a kind of the tail end of major world processes as far as space and space exploration and space research know, we will be on the forefront. We're speaking about working as a competitor with and sometimes as an adversary to China and the United States. But we are a global player. That's what I want to emphasise, a great a major player amongst major world powers.

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, We are the second space power in the world. We have an established tradition, a history. And that's why I'm happy that the co-legislators have come to an ambitious agreement on the new space programme, which follows the commission's ambition.

SOUNDBITE (French), Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, We have a budget of over 13 billion. We've brought all of these space activities together in one single programme and we're proposing new, more effective governance than we had. Europe has everything it needs to be a leading space power.

SOUNDBITE (German), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), Europe's future is also decided in space. We have two successful programmes in place which we welcome, and we want to enhance that further with the space programme. Copernicus gives us space surveillance data. We can fight of disasters better. Galileo gives us a satellite navigation programme. The whole world is talking about SpaceX and Elon Musk. The US and China have major plans to have networks of thousands of satellites so that everywhere on Earth, an Internet connection is possible.

SOUNDBITE (German), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), Europe must be able to face up to the US and China with the third major power. Is for that reason that we need massive investments, which is why in the European Parliament we've fought hard for an adequate budget.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Carlos ZORRINHO (S&amp;D, PT), The European space programme and the establishment of the EU Agency for the Space Programme will give the EU in particular and humanity in general, key tools to better understand and protect better the planet we live on, guarantee biodiversity, fight climate change, and take part in global networks for exploration and management of space for the common good.

SOUNDBITE (French), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR), We need more ambition for Europe in space, scientific missions on the Moon and Mars. Then let's not be naive. Space will also be a place of tension. We need a true European strategy for spatial defence. And we then also need access to space. We need launches because we need to continue to launch our own satellites. Let's think big. As Oscar Wilde wrote, you need to aim for the Moon because even when you fail, you land on the stars.

SOUNDBITE (English), Niklas NIENASS (Greens/EFA, DE), The stars on our flag are not a coincidence, they're a constant reminder that we, as Europeans, should always drive for the stars. Metaphorically, but sometimes even literally.

SOUNDBITE (English), Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), Rapporteur, Too little, we speak about the space infrastructure that is the only one European infrastructure, and then we we can use that this infrastructure for our industry, for our SMEs, for our big companies, always, for the let me say, the downstream market. Often we we speak about the downstream market in the space sector, in USA and in China. Nowadays, we can speak about downstream market in the space programme and in the space sector, also in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), Rapporteur, For the space programme, we preserve a good budget, 14.8 billion euros is a good budget. 9 billions euros for Galileo, 5.4 billions for Copernicus, and 0.4 billions for new programmes like GovSatcom and SSA (Space Situational Awareness Programme). I'm satisfied.

Lex signing ceremony, signing the Space programme of the Union for the period 2021-2027 into law