Åsunn Lyngedal (Labour Party) and Kårstein Eidem Løvaas (Conservative Party) during the European Interparliamentary Space Conference 2021. Photo: Morten Brakestad/Storting.
Summary of the resolution from the European Interparliamentary Space Conference 2021
MPs from 12 nations, and a number of European leaders took part in the conference on 10th May, which was hosted by the Storting.
MPs at the European Interparliamentary Space Conference 2021 made an unequivocal call to European governments and space organizations to lead the way in development and to support European space research and industry. They would like European spaceports such as Andøya to be used when European satellites are launched.
Satellite technology in the Arctic
The conference resolution underlines the significance of satellite technology for the modern world, especially in the Arctic, and the vital role this technology plays in monitoring climate change.
The MPs also urge European governments and space institutions to:
- use European spaceports when launching satellites so as to support Europe’s strategic capacity in the field
- continue their collaboration and exchange of information when forming new legislation
- take the lead and support European space research and industry to ensure competitiveness and to prevent the loss of critical capabilities during and after the COVID-19 crisis
- strengthen digitalization in Europe with the help of space data and technology to develop and provide good digital services to its citizens
- continue and further develop the European space programmes to monitor climate change and its consequences on the environment and infrastructure in the Arctic
- enhance the cooperation on ocean surveillance in Arctic waters
- support the development of such satellite services as weather forecasting, communication and positioning
- support autonomous shipping to improve the safety for ships operating in Arctic conditions
The European Interparliamentary Space Conference
The European Interparliamentary Space Conference is the permanent forum for interparliamentary cooperation in space. Established in 1999, it is a collaboration between European parliaments with an interest in space policy. The EISC’s aim is to facilitate the exchange of information on space activities and to promote mutual understanding of national policies on the major issues at stake in the European space sector. Norway became a member in 2016.
Last updated: 11.05.2021 10:39