{"id":56062,"date":"2020-01-21T19:37:39","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T19:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/21\/eu-leaders-try-to-stir-up-space-business-but-funding-is-at-risk\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:06:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:06:31","slug":"eu-leaders-try-to-stir-up-space-business-but-funding-is-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2020\/01\/21\/eu-leaders-try-to-stir-up-space-business-but-funding-is-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"EU leaders try to stir up space business, but funding is at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BRUSSELS \u2013 European Commission vice president Margrethe Vestager has made an impassioned plea for Europe\u2019s space program to be properly funded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a keynote speech at the 12th European Space Conference here, the Danish official said, \u201cWe have to make sure that money is there to support work on new ideas and new technologies \u2013 technologies in space, but also new products or services that make use of satellite data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s enormously important that the EU\u2019s next seven-year budget makes the money available that we need for new investments, including the space program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her comments come after Finland proposed deeper cuts to EU spending to try to break a stalemate over the bloc\u2019s long-term budget plans, the seven-year multiannual financial framework (MFF). Finland, which held the EU\u2019s rotating presidency until Jan. 1, is suggesting a budget of 1.07 percent of gross national income in the EU, or \u20ac1.087 trillion, over between 2021 and 2027. That is less than the figure proposed by the European Commission, which had asked for 1.11 percent, or that of the European Parliament, which asked for 1.3 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vestager, speaking on the first day of the two-day conference, said Europe has \u201csome of the world\u2019s very best and most competitive satellite makers\u201d which already account for one-third of the world markets, and is home to leading satellite communication companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis decade of new and valuable uses of space technology and data can be \u2013 and should be \u2013 a European decade,\u201d declared the official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also argued that it is impossible to make the most of Europe\u2019s space and space defense industry without proper funding, adding that \u201cwe have to make sure we give Europe\u2019s space industry the attention and support it needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t