Paris, 20 December 2006 – On Wednesday, the WEU Assembly came out in favour of strengthened cooperation with Ukraine in the aerospace sector, more specifically by setting up an “association” between the European Space Agency (ESA) and its Ukrainian counterpart, the SNAU.

In a report presented on behalf of the Technological and Aerospace Committee by Jean-Guy Branger (France, Federated Group) and Bill Etherington (United Kingdom, Socialist Group), the Assembly noted that aerospace cooperation between the European Union and Ukraine did “not as yet go very far”, given Ukraine’s “great potential” in this area. Cooperation in the aeronautics sector was limited to hiring Antonov 124 strategic transport aircraft under the SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) contract, to which 14 EU member states were party. Ukraine also cooperated in the space sector through its involvement in the Europe’s Galileo global satellite navigation system.

Having inherited a large part of the former USSR’s military-industrial complex, Ukraine has in recent years pursued an ambitious space programme, carrying out seven launches in 2005, in other words 9% of the world’s launches. “The main European companies are very interested in cooperating with Ukraine on space projects in the future but it is evident that the absence of political agreements between ESA and SNAU is holding back large-scale cooperation”, Mr Branger observed. He called for the two agencies to “envisage establishing a partnership mechanism with a view to mutually beneficial cooperation”.

As regards civilian cooperation in the civilian sector, Boeing and Airbus are currently competing over the sale of 40-60 aircraft to two Ukrainian air transport companies (one publicly-run, the other private). If Ukraine were to buy European, the Rapporteurs felt that this might stimulate Europe’s interest in Antonov naval patrol aircraft. Partnership could also be envisaged within the framework of the Ukrainian programme to modernise its helicopter fleet.

Mr Etherington noted that cooperating with Ukraine would also provide an opportunity to compete more effectively with the United States as regards production in the area of military and space technology. “We need action” he said, observing that if steps were not taken, “we could regret it”.

Andryi Shkil, the Chairman of the Ukrainian delegation of permanent guests to the Assembly, who was behind an amendment tabled by the Rapporteurs and voted on by the Assembly, welcomed “Ukraine’s decision to follow the course of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and its aspiration to make a contribution towards implementing the European Security and Defence Policy through the use of its great potential”.