Paris, 1 December – The WEU Assembly on Tuesday advocated the creation of a “space” division in the European Defence Agency in order to deal, in liaison with the European Space Agency, with the specific requirements of space-based systems for the ESDP.
 
In a report submitted on behalf of the Defence Committee, Renzo Gubert (Italy, Federated Group) considers that the commitments set out in the Headline Goal 2010 to respond to crises imply “autonomy of the ESDP” which it will not be possible to guarantee in the longer term “without a comprehensive space component” including ground stations and space-based systems, satellite data-processing centres and all-weather observation, communications and navigation satellites”. According to the Rapporteur, Europe could “embark on reasonable development of its space-based facilities by embracing the concept of self-sufficiency”. What it needs to do above all else is acquire assets which he describes as “modest compared to American equipment”, but which will enable it to verify and analyse data that are “sensitive and crucial for decision-taking in the event of a crisis”.
 
One of the main tasks according to the Assembly will be “to establish a close link between the European Defence Agency, which should have its own “space” division, and the European Space Agency” for the purpose of embarking on a “phase of cooperation and coordination to create a network of security and defence-related systems that already exist”. Regretting the fact that European cooperation in the field of defence space capabilities suffers from “duplication of effort and the fragmentation of financial and technical resources” the Assembly recommends the development of “a policy of interoperability and of exchanging capacities between existing European space-based systems”.
 
It also points out that giving the EU Satellite Centre in Torrejón a proper military cell would improve its responsiveness. It advocates strong support for the Galileo system and in particular a definition of the services it is expected to provide for the ESDP.