EU competitiveness ministers to discuss space traffic management and secure satellite broadband in France
Ministers responsible for space affairs will meet in Toulouse, France on 16 February 2022. An informal meeting of competitiveness ministers and an informal ministerial meeting of the European Space Agency (ESA) will be held on the same day. Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will represent Finland at the meetings.
The ministers’ agenda includes the European Commission’s proposal for a strategy on space traffic management and an initiative for a secure space-based broadband network. The discussion on developing space traffic management supports the objectives of the European space strategy.
“European space policy can promote sustainable growth in different sectors and the green and digital transition with the help of space technology, data and services, for example. Finland has a great deal of expertise in matters related to space. It is important that the EU and ESA develop these large-scale initiatives requiring a lot of resources together,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.
In addition to the sustainable growth perspective, Finland wants to promote cooperation between the civilian, defence and space industries. It is important that different operators, such as small and medium-sized companies, have access to the space sector.
The French President Emmanuel Macron will give a closing speech at the meeting. In informal meetings, ministers discuss current issues, but no decisions are taken.
Press conference on current issues in EU space policy
The speeches by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton will be streamed for the media.
After the meetings, the ESA, the European Union and France, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, will hold a press conference at 19−19.45 Finnish time. The media are invited to attend the press conference and ask questions via remote connections.
For more information and to register for the event, please go to the ESA website.
Inquiries:
Leila Vilhunen, Adviser to Minister of Economic Affairs (EU and International Affairs), tel. +358 295 047 120
Jenni Tapio, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 089
Taru Löyttymäki, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. + 358 295 047 177