BETA


2008/2030(INI) Space and security

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET VON WOGAU Karl (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Committee Opinion ITRE JORDAN Romana (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2008/09/29
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/08/27
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/07/10
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2008/07/10
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 483 votes to 99, with 20 abstentions, a resolution on Space and security.

The own initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Karl von WOGAU (EPP-ED, DE), on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

MEPs note the need for a common approach for defending European interests in space. They underline the need for space assets in order that the political and diplomatic activities of the European Union may be based on independent, reliable and complete information in support of its policies for conflict prevention, crisis management operations and global security (especially the monitoring of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of transportation), verification of international treaties, the transnational smuggling of light weapons and small arms, the protection of critical infrastructure and of the European Union’s borders, and civil protection in the event of natural and man-made disasters and crises.

Earth observation and reconnaissance : the resolution underlines the necessity of Galileo for autonomous ESDP operations, for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), for Europe’s own security and for the Union's strategic autonomy. The Parliament recommends the urgent conclusion of agreements between the European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) and the EU Member States to provide imagery available to ESDP operation and force commanders while ensuring complementarity with Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) observation capacities. It also calls on the Member States to pool and exchange the geospatial intelligence necessary for autonomous EU threat assessment. MEPs urge the EU Member States with access to the various types of radar, optical and weather observation satellites and reconnaissance systems to make them compatible. Lastly, they urge the creation of an operational budget line to ensure the sustainability of GMES services in response to users’ needs.

Telecommunications : MEPs underline the necessity of secure satellite-supported communication for ESDP operations and EU Member States' deployments under UN, NATO and other similar organisations. They request that the current and future satellite telecommunication systems at the disposal of the countries of the European Union be mutually interoperable in order to provide for cost reduction. They also support the possible funding of a future satellite telecommunication system, which supports ESDP operations, through the EU budget.

Satellite-based early warning against ballistic missiles : the Parliament deplores the fact that EU Member States do not have access to instant data on ballistic missile launches around the world and expresses support, therefore, for projects leading towards satellite-based early warning against ballistic missile launches. It calls for information acquired through these future systems to be available to all Member States of the European Union in order to protect their population.

Autonomous access to space and international environment : the Parliament supports secure, independent and sustainable access to space for the European Union as one of the preconditions of its autonomous action. It recommends that the European non-commercial satellites be carried into orbit by European launchers, preferably from the territory of the European Union, bearing in mind the aspects of security of supply and protection of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. MEPs point out that it is necessary to increase the development effort for an enhanced Ariane 5 to be available before 2015 and recommend that strategic long-term investment in new European launchers be initiated as soon as possible.

Financing : the European Union is called upon to set up an operational budget for space assets that serve to support the ESDP and European security interests. Alarmed by the lack of coordination among Member States, MEPs support the idea of the launching of joint programmes by the Member States, which will provide costs savings in the longer term. They point out that, as experience has shown, large-scale common projects cannot be properly managed when 27 different national budget authorities applying the principle of "fair return" are involved. They therefore strongly recommend that these projects and programmes be financed from the EU budget.

Protection of space infrastructure : the resolution underscores the vulnerability of strategic space assets and stresses the need for them to be adequately protected by ground-based theatre missile defence, planes and space surveillance systems. It calls for the vulnerability of future European satellite systems to be reduced while stressing that advanced communication should never be made fully dependent on space-based technologies.

International legal regime for uses of space : reiterating the importance of the principle of the use of space for peaceful purposes, the Parliament urges that under no circumstances should European space policy contribute to the overall militarisation and weaponisation of space. MEPs express their particular concern about the use of destructive force against satellites, such as the Chinese anti-satellite system tested in January 2007 and the consequences of the massive increase in debris for space security. They recommend, therefore, the adoption of legally binding international instruments focusing on banning the use of weapons against space assets and the stationing of weapons in space. They also call on the EU institutions to promote a conference to review the Outer Space Treaty, with the aim of strengthening it and expanding its scope to prohibit all weapons in space.

Documents
2008/07/10
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/07/09
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2008/06/10
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2008/06/10
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2008/06/03
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own initiative report by Karl WOGAU (EPP-ED, DE) on Space and security.

MEPs note the need for a common approach for defending European interests in space. They underline the need for space assets in order that the political and diplomatic activities of the European Union may be based on independent, reliable and complete information in support of its policies for conflict prevention, crisis management operations and global security (especially the monitoring of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of transportation),verification of international treaties, the transnational smuggling of light weapons and small arms, the protection of critical infrastructure and of the European Union’s borders, and civil protection in the event of natural and man-made disasters and crises.

The report underlines the necessity of Galileo for autonomous ESDP operations, for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), for Europe’s own security and for the Union's strategic autonomy. It calls on Member States to ensure the interoperability of their diverse observation and reconnaissance systems and recommends the urgent conclusion of agreements between the EUSC and the EU Member States to provide imagery available to ESDP operation and force commanders.

The parliamentary committee deplores the fact that EU Member States do not have access to instant data on ballistic missile launches around the world and expresses support, therefore, for projects leading towards satellite-based early warning against ballistic missile launches. It also underscores the vulnerability of strategic space assets and the need for them to be adequately protected by ground-based theatre missile defence, planes and space surveillance systems.

The European Union is also called upon to establish an operational budget for space assets that serve to support the ESDP and European security interests. Alarmed by the lack of coordination among Member States, MEPs support the idea of the launching of joint programmes by the Member States, which will provide costs savings in the longer term. They also recommend that European non-commercial satellites be sent into orbit by European launchers from EU territory.

Lastly, the report calls on all international actors to refrain from using offensive equipment in space. MEPs express their particular concern about the use of destructive force against satellites, such as the Chinese anti-satellite system tested in January 2007 and the consequences of the massive increase in debris for space security. They recommend, therefore, the adoption of legally binding international instruments focusing on banning the use of weapons against space assets and the stationing of weapons in space. They also call on the EU institutions to promote a conference to review the Outer Space Treaty, with the aim of strengthening it and expanding its scope to prohibit all weapons in space.

2008/05/30
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2008/05/08
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2008/04/08
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2008/04/07
   EP - JORDAN Romana (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in ITRE
2008/02/21
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2007/10/03
   EP - VON WOGAU Karl (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - am. 5 #

2008/07/10 Outcome: -: 501, +: 61, 0: 38
SE CY MT CZ SI LU IE LV EE LT FI DK AT SK PT EL BG BE NL HU IT GB RO ES PL FR DE
Total
11
6
2
19
4
4
9
7
5
12
11
12
15
11
19
19
15
21
23
20
46
51
29
44
50
60
75
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
29

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
28

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

Against (1)

3

Romania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2

Germany Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

6
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
11

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Poland IND/DEM

3

France IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

3
icon: NI NI
17

Austria NI

Against (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

Bulgaria NI

1

Belgium NI

3

Italy NI

2

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

5
2
icon: UEN UEN
35

Ireland UEN

2

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
83

Sweden ALDE

Against (2)

2

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ALDE

4

Hungary ALDE

2
2
icon: PSE PSE
167

Sweden PSE

Against (1)

3

Czechia PSE

2

Luxembourg PSE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PSE

Against (2)

2

Lithuania PSE

Against (1)

1

Finland PSE

3

Slovakia PSE

2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
230

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Ireland PPE-DE

For (1)

5

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1
2

Finland PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Rapport von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - am. 6 #

2008/07/10 Outcome: -: 502, +: 83, 0: 15
CZ CY MT SE SI LU LV EE IE GB DK FI LT SK BG AT PT NL EL BE HU RO IT ES PL FR DE
Total
17
5
2
11
4
4
7
6
9
51
12
12
11
11
16
13
20
22
19
20
20
29
44
44
50
65
76
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
29

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
26

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Greece IND/DEM

1

Poland IND/DEM

Against (1)

3
icon: NI NI
21

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

5

Slovakia NI

2

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

Against (1)

1

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

3

Italy NI

2
4
icon: UEN UEN
34

Ireland UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
80

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ALDE

4

Hungary ALDE

2
2
icon: PSE PSE
168

Czechia PSE

2

Sweden PSE

Against (1)

3

Estonia PSE

3

Finland PSE

3

Lithuania PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
230

Cyprus PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Rapport von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - am. 4/1 #

2008/07/10 Outcome: -: 326, +: 263, 0: 10
GB PT CZ NL FR SE ES AT DK EE LU CY MT EL BE FI SI BG LV LT HU IT IE SK RO DE PL
Total
50
20
17
21
66
11
43
15
13
6
5
6
2
19
20
12
4
15
7
12
18
45
9
11
29
77
46
icon: PSE PSE
167

Czechia PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
29

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

France GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
30

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

Against (1)

3
icon: NI NI
21

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

5

Austria NI

2

Belgium NI

3

Bulgaria NI

1

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2
icon: UEN UEN
33

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2

Ireland UEN

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
78

Netherlands ALDE

3

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

1
2

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Hungary ALDE

Against (1)

2

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
229

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Lithuania PPE-DE

2

Rapport von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - am. 4/2 #

2008/07/10 Outcome: -: 395, +: 200, 0: 11
PT AT FR EE ES LU SE MT DK BE NL FI LV SI EL BG CY LT SK HU IE CZ GB RO IT DE PL
Total
20
15
66
6
43
5
12
2
12
21
22
12
6
4
20
15
6
13
11
19
9
18
50
29
45
78
47
icon: PSE PSE
169

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2

Czechia PSE

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
31

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

For (1)

3

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3
icon: NI NI
21

Austria NI

2

Belgium NI

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Bulgaria NI

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2

United Kingdom NI

5

Italy NI

2
2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
28

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

France GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
4
icon: UEN UEN
33

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2

Ireland UEN

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
79

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

Against (2)

2
2

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

Against (2)

2

Netherlands ALDE

4

Slovenia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Hungary ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
233

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Lithuania PPE-DE

2

Rapport von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - par. 29 #

2008/07/10 Outcome: +: 519, -: 40, 0: 36
DE FR PL GB ES RO IT HU BE BG EL LT PT AT NL FI DK CZ IE SK SE LV EE LU SI CY MT
Total
75
67
49
50
42
28
45
19
17
16
19
13
19
14
20
11
12
19
9
10
11
7
6
5
4
6
2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
228
2

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

2
icon: PSE PSE
168

Lithuania PSE

2

Czechia PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2

Sweden PSE

Against (1)

4

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
80

Hungary ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

1

Netherlands ALDE

3

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
34

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Ireland UEN

2
icon: NI NI
18

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

5

Italy NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
26

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

Against (1)

Abstain (2)

3

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Poland IND/DEM

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
29

France GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Rapportc von Wogau A6-0250/2008 - résolution #

2008/07/10 Outcome: +: 483, -: 99, 0: 20
DE PL FR ES RO IT HU BE EL PT BG AT LT SK DK FI NL IE EE LV SI LU SE CY MT GB CZ
Total
78
49
66
41
27
44
20
20
19
20
15
15
11
11
13
11
22
9
6
7
4
5
12
6
2
50
19
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
227
2

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

2
icon: PSE PSE
167

Lithuania PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Sweden PSE

Against (1)

4

Czechia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
81
2

Austria ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
33

Lithuania UEN

1

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Ireland UEN

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Poland IND/DEM

3

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
23
2

Italy NI

2

Belgium NI

For (1)

3

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

United Kingdom NI

5
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
30
4

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

Against (1)

2

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
29

France GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
AmendmentsDossier
50 2008/2030(INI)
2008/05/08 AFET 48 amendments...