EC Report Calls for Doubling Security Space Spending

摘要

A European Commission-ordered assessment of Europe's space-based security policy has concluded that harmonizing current telecommunications and reconnaissance programs to assure interoperability is a higher priority than any big new hardware-development efforts. The authors also say a European space-surveillance program to monitor what assets are orbiting over European territory should be backed by European governments. Nearly a year in the making, the "Report of the Panel of Experts on Space and Security" — known as Spacesec — will be one of the tools used by the European Commission in determining funding levels in its next seven-year financial package, for 2007-2013. Indications should be given this spring of whether Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who is responsible for most European Commission space and security spending, will push for new space investment as part of the seven-year financial package.