Πρόεδρος. – Το επόμενο σημείο στην ημερήσια διάταξη είναι η συζήτηση επί της ερώτησης με αίτημα προφορικής απάντησης προς την Επιτροπή με τίτλο «Μια προσέγγιση της ΕΕ για τη διαχείριση της κυκλοφορίας στο διάστημα – Μια συνεισφορά της ΕΕ για την αντιμετώπιση μιας παγκόσμιας πρόκλησης», που κατέθεσε ο Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής Βιομηχανίας, Έρευνας και Ενέργειας (O-000035/2022 - B9-0022/22) ().
Marian-Jean Marinescu, autor. – Domnule președinte, domnule comisar, stimați colegi, Agenția Spațială Europeană estimează existența în spațiu a aproximativ un milion de deșeuri mai mari de un centimetru. Aceasta înseamnă că 2700 sateliți funcționali împart orbitele cu 8800 tone de deșeuri spațiale. Riscul ca sateliții operaționali să fie distruși prin coliziunea cu resturi care plutesc în derivă este foarte mare.
În aprilie anul acesta a fost necesară o corecție a orbitei satelitului Sentinel 1A din programul Copernicus pentru a evita coliziunea cu un fragment al unei rachete lansate acum 30 de ani. Este nevoie urgentă de managementul traficului spațial pentru a securiza infrastructura europeană lansată în spațiu și a putea beneficia în continuare de serviciile programelor spațiale ale Uniunii.
Orbitele spațiale pe care le putem folosi sunt o resursă finită. Trebuie să ținem cont că în ultimii 10 ani a avut loc o creștere fără precedent a traficului în spațiu. Avem mult mai multe mari constelații. Avem mai mulți actori spațiali. Pentru a dezvolta programe spațiale noi, este nevoie de o abordare sustenabilă, iar managementul traficului spațial este unul dintre instrumentele necesare.
Salutăm inițiativa Comisiei privind STM și setul de acțiuni propuse, însă considerăm că este doar un prim pas. Având în vedere importanța STM pentru politica spațială a Uniunii, cerem Comisiei ca până la finalul anului 2023 să avanseze și legislația aferentă, incluzând guvernanța sistemului, responsabilitățile, setul de norme și standarde necesare.
Și, la fel de important, este necesar un buget pentru STM. Fără un buget propriu, managementul traficului spațial va rămâne doar un concept. Mă bucur că moțiunea este pe agenda plenului Parlamentului European, chiar în perioada în care la Praga are loc EU Space Week. Vă invit să votăm în favoarea acestei moțiuni pentru a transmite Comisiei că Parlamentul European susține politica spațială a Uniunii, însă solicită acțiuni rapide și concrete.
Janusz Wojciechowski,Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, the implementation of a European Union approach to space traffic management is necessary to protect our space assets and access to space for future generations. Indeed, space is recognised as a strategic domain in its own right, but also as a catalyst for key economic sectors for the European Union. Today, it is estimated that 10% of the European Union’s GNP is based on the use of space services. Europe is a great space power. We have some of the best players in the world in the field of launchers, satellites and services. Space is, therefore, an area of sovereignty and autonomy, but it is also an increasingly crowded and congested area.
Crowded because the volume of debris and the number of satellites have been increasingly exponentially, and with them the risk of in-orbit collisions and the direct risk to the safety of orbital traffic and the sustainability of space. If nothing is done within the next few years, we run the risk of seeing collisions multiply and with them an exponential increase in the number of debris to such a level that any activity in lower Earth orbit and beyond will become almost impossible.
This will impact our current activities – Copernicus, Galileo – but may also affect the development of our new constellation on secure connectivity. Space traffic management is clearly becoming a necessity if we want to continue to benefit from the advantages of a robust EU space policy. Therefore, the Commission proposed on 15 February, together with the High Representative, a joint communication for a European Union approach to space traffic management.
Firstly, we will establish civilian and military needs with the Member States. Secondly, we will develop our operational capabilities, relying on synergies with EU industry. Thirdly, we will establish a progressive and adapted regulatory framework at the European Union level. Fourthly, we will engage internationally to promote cooperation with partners, including the US.
The Commission and High Representative, therefore, welcome today’s oral questions and the related motion for a resolution. In terms of legislation on STM, the Commission is indeed planning to make legislative proposals. The scope of such legislative action will need to be carefully discussed. An obligation developed at European Union level will need to be imposed on all satellite operators providing services within the EU to avoid imposing additional costs to EU operators only.
In terms of budget for STM, we will be making best use of the budget allocated by the Space Regulation to space surveillance and tracking, which is a cornerstone for the development of STM. This will be implemented in synergy with the budget under Horizon Europe. In terms of research and innovation for STM, the Commission has been carrying out a range of activities – be it through Horizon, be it via the EU space surveillance and tracking consultation. In terms of action at international level, we recognise that an international regulatory framework is a long-term ambition.
In the meantime, the Commission and the High Representative proposed to engage with key partners with existing and emerging STM capabilities to promote cooperation across regions in view of contributing to a global effort.
Angelika Niebler, im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Herr Kommissar, liebe Kolleginnen, liebe Kollegen! Die Zeitenwende in Europa ist auch eine besondere Zeitenwende für die europäische Raumfahrt.
Russland hat bekanntermaßen Ende Februar 2022 die Zusammenarbeit in der Raumfahrt mit Europa aufgekündigt. Dies hat natürlich auch für uns in Europa gravierende Auswirkungen. Ich denke, es ist jetzt wirklich an der Zeit, dass wir uns in diesem Bereich resilient und zukunftsfähig aufstellen.
Es gibt immer mehr Unternehmen im Bereich des New Space, die großes Potenzial haben. Viele junge und noch kleine Unternehmen sind in Deutschland, aber auch in allen anderen europäischen Ländern dabei, sich auch auf internationaler Ebene einen Namen zu machen. Allein im New Space-Bereich wird geschätzt, dass der Markt bis zum Jahre 2040 auf bis zu 2700Millionen wachsen wird. Ich denke, es ist daher dringend notwendig, dass wir hier diese kleinen mittelständischen Unternehmen auch auf europäischer Ebene massiv unterstützen.
Als Europäische Union sollte es unser Anspruch sein, im globalen Wettbewerb eine zentrale Rolle einzunehmen und vor allen Dingen einen sicheren, autonomen Zugang zum Weltraum und zur Nutzung des Weltraums zu gewährleisten.
Ich würde daher gerne die Kommission heute fragen– und Herr Kommissar hat ja hierzu schon einiges ausgeführt: Wie wird die Kommission im Hinblick auf die Ausarbeitung des Space Traffic Management vor allen Dingen bürokratische Hürden, gerade für kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen, abbauen, damit in Zukunft die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gerade dieser Unternehmen und auch der großen Player hier in diesem Markt, die in Europa ihren Sitz haben, gegeben bleibt?
Carlos Zorrinho, em nome do Grupo S&D. – Senhor Presidente, Senhor Comissário, a questão oral que aqui hoje debatemos, sobre a forma como a Comissão Europeia pretende colocar no terreno as medidas preconizadas na Comunicação, de 15 de fevereiro deste ano, sobre a abordagem da União Europeia em matéria de gestão e tráfico espacial e do contributo da União para superar o desafio mundial, não podia ser mais oportuna e atual.
Como representante dos Socialistas e Democratas nas negociações do Programa Espacial Europeu, testemunho o esforço que o Parlamento Europeu fez para garantir um financiamento adequado para iniciativas que são determinantes na autonomia estratégica da União. Iniciativas e programas em domínios como a conectividade, o rastreio e o posicionamento, que são fundamentais para a sustentabilidade, a segurança e a gestão partilhada do território geoespacial.
A gestão do tráfego espacial contribui para garantir a segurança, o acesso fiável e autónomo e a sustentabilidade a longo prazo do espaço exterior e para promover e garantir a continuidade e a competitividade da indústria espacial na União Europeia.
É, por isso, fundamental investir em novas tecnologias que forneçam soluções seguras no que diz respeito ao tráfego espacial, ao congestionamento e aos riscos de colisão. Tudo isto é reconhecido na Comunicação conjunta de 15 de fevereiro.
Entretanto, passaram quase oito meses, e ocorreu uma invasão de um país soberano na Europa. O contexto de economia de guerra em que vivemos não se compadece com adiamentos ou mecanismos de concretização lenta nas políticas cruciais, como as políticas para o espaço.
Por isso, é tão importante pedir à Comissão respostas concretas às questões formuladas nesta pergunta oral. Perguntas quanto ao quadro regulamentar europeu, às opções técnicas, designadamente na prevenção automatizada de colisões, às prioridades na investigação e na inovação, aos compromissos orçamentais e à eventual adoção de um quadro regulamentar internacional. Aguardamos respostas claras e mobilizadoras. É isso que é decisivo.
Susana Solís Pérez, en nombre del Grupo Renew. – Señor presidente, el espacio es un sector de futuro para Europa y para nuestra industria.
Esta Resolución, junto con la legislación sobre conectividad segura, suponen un antes y un después para la política espacial europea.
Más de 7000 satélites y más de un millón de desechos orbitan alrededor de la Tierra y su número aumenta constantemente. Se espera que en los próximos años se lancen más de 30000 satélites adicionales, con un riesgo cada vez mayor de colisión.
Por lo tanto, la gestión del tráfico espacial es fundamental para garantizar la seguridad de las infraestructuras y las operaciones espaciales, y también la sostenibilidad.
Necesitamos reforzar nuestras capacidades de vigilancia y seguimiento existentes para preservar la autonomía estratégica y la competitividad de la industria europea, a la vez que impulsamos la cooperación internacional.
Por eso, pedimos a la Comisión que proponga legislación vinculante antes de 2024 para gestionar el tráfico espacial y facilitar la gobernanza del sector.
No es ciencia ficción. La economía espacial es una realidad con un potencial tremendo. La dimensión de seguridad y defensa del espacio es, tal y como nos ha enseñado la guerra de Ucrania, una prioridad para Europa.
Apostar, por tanto, por un sector espacial europeo fuerte y viable es apostar por la industria europea del mañana, por la seguridad de nuestras sociedades y por el desarrollo de un ecosistema científico de excelencia.
Niklas Nienaß, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – MrPresident, while space might seem infinite, the usable space in Earth’s proximity is not. In the past decades, we only had a few satellites in orbit, but now we add several hundred new satellites every year. This extensive use of outer space means more possibilities to benefit all humans on Earth. But it also means that this increase of objects – be it functional satellites or useless trash – increases the threat of collision. We and not just Europeans, but humanity as a whole needs to avoid this by all means.
Any collision can result in a cascading destruction known as the Kessler Syndrome. The implication of this is that all our space—based infrastructure would be destroyed, and the worldwide society would fall back to the technological status of the 1970s. All supply chains would be heavily interrupted because ships cannot navigate without GPS and Galileo. Worldwide communication would be cut, and this would interrupt everything from football game transmissions to renewable energy production, and the fight against climate change would be unwinnable without data from Copernicus. This is what’s at stake.
And because the stakes are so high, I am thankful that finally, Ϸվ and Commission see the imminent need to build up a system for space traffic management. I would have liked to see this happen much earlier because we have to do so much more and we have to be so much faster.
We need binding sustainability standards for all missions. These should be ‘leave no trace behind’, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, no light pollution, and active debris removal.
I have been pushing the Commission as well as the Member States. And to let you know, I will continue to do so to forge European space law, one common comprehensive European law to regulate all space activities in all fields necessary, so that Europe extends its activities in space to bring more benefits to all Europeans and all humans, but that’s also sustainable.
And I’m advocating for an international space law because we have to treat outer space for what it is – not a junkyard, not a playground for billionaires, not the Wild West, but a common heritage of all mankind.
Paolo Borchia, a nome del gruppo ID. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, Commissario, il tema delle regole sulla gestione del traffico spaziale diventa fondamentale in un momento delicato per lo spazio che vede, oltre alla Stazione spaziale internazionale, anche la presenza della Stazione spaziale cinese e nei prossimi anni la diffusione delle stazioni spaziali commerciali. Già dal 2023 verrà inviato in orbita il primo modulo della futura stazione privata di Axiom Space.
Entrando nei dettagli, il tema detriti ricopre una grandissima importanza per la sicurezza dei mezzi, ma soprattutto per la sicurezza degli equipaggi, visto che mediamente la Stazione spaziale internazionale effettua almeno quattro cambi rapidi di orbita per evitare sciami di detriti spaziali ogni anno. Questi sono numeri che devono far riflettere chi sarà chiamato a legiferare.
Contestualmente la mappatura dei detriti sta diventando sempre più complicata, sempre più complessa, visto che finora la comunità internazionale si è dotata di buone pratiche, prevedendo motori per il rientro nell'atmosfera e riducendo al minimo quelle parti che poi potrebbero diventare detriti.
Purtroppo però negli ultimi anni alcuni paesi, vedasi gli ultimi lanci della Stazione spaziale cinese, non hanno rispettato queste buone prassi, spesso non monitorando nemmeno il rientro dei propri vettori in atmosfera. Quindi abbiamo bisogno di accordi internazionali che siano chiari e vincolanti in merito alla riduzione dei detriti, ma soprattutto di progetti per raccogliere e bruciare nell'atmosfera i detriti di maggiori dimensioni.
Quindi, in conclusione, è essenziale che Commissione europea e questo Parlamento trovino la sinergia più adatta per fare sintesi sulle regole europee, anche in ottica della colonizzazione della Luna, che con la missione Artemis prevederà l'utilizzo di una stazione orbitante lunare come base di supporto per gli allunaggi e le future missioni su Marte.
Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE). – Senhor Presidente, Senhor Comissário, caros colegas, acima de um milhão de detritos com mais de um centímetro estão, neste momento, à deriva sobre a Terra. Prevê-se que, na próxima década, sejam lançados mais de 20 000 novos satélites. Além disso, a corrida espacial está a alargar-se a outros atores e a outras frentes.
Calcula-se que a inovação tecnológica tornará viáveis, e já hoje e muito em breve, o turismo, a mineração espacial. Com esta proliferação da atividade espacial, sem dúvida promissora, crescem também os desafios a enfrentar. Entre estes, os riscos de colisões e de sobreposições de órbitas.
A União Europeia tem, por isso, de atuar – e na minha opinião – em quatro frentes. Primeiro, estabelecendo um quadro regulamentar abrangente de regras nestas matérias. Segundo, cooperando e articulando com outras regiões e nações envolvidas na área espacial. Em terceiro lugar, aumentando o financiamento de um programa muito útil, mas até agora subfinanciado, o EU SST, responsável pela vigilância e rastreamento espacial. Finalmente, reforçando os investimentos e dando prioridade à investigação científica e à inovação na área do espaço, diversificando as fontes de financiamento e apostando em sinergias dos programas de espaço com o Programa de Ciência e Inovação Horizonte Europa.
Robert Hajšel (S&D). – Vážený pán predsedajúci, ak sa chce Európska únia stať skutočným lídrom, musí naozaj ďalej zvyšovať svoje investície tak do vedy, ako aj výskumu, aj do oblasti vesmíru, ktorý potrebujeme využívať v spolupráci aj s inými veľmocami a zachovať ho pre budúce generácie. Služby spojené s využívaním vesmíru už dnes predstavujú 10% HDP Európskej únie. Vesmírna prevádzka, ktorá v posledných rokoch prudko narástla kvôli znižujúcim sa nákladom potrebným na vypustenie satelitov na obežnú dráhu, komplikuje túto situáciu. V súčasnosti sa odhaduje, že na obežnej dráhe Zeme sa nachádza až 1milión objektov väčších ako 1 centimeter, ktoré sa pohybujú rýchlosťou 56 tisíc km/h. V prípade ich zrážky môže naozaj dôjsť k veľkým škodám a aj k zväčšovaniu sa vesmírneho odpadu. Európska únia ako aktér vo vesmírnej politike, ktorý chce byť lídrom, musí viac tlačiť aj na ostatné štáty, aby súhlasili so spoluprácou pri využívaní vesmírneho priestoru a aby zaujali aj šetrnejší a udržateľnejší postoj. V tejto súvislosti je preto veľmi poľutovaniahodné a je to v podstate veľká tragédia, že pokračuje táto vojna a agresívna vojna Ruskej federácie na Ukrajine. Preto plne podporujem túto iniciatívu Európskej komisie a spoločný prístup Európskej únie k riadeniu vesmírnej prevádzky.
Christophe Grudler (Renew). – Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, cher Commissaire, notre ciel se remplit de débris spatiaux, et nous ne faisons rien. Chaque année,de nouveaux satellites sont lancés dans l’espace, tandis que d’autres, trop anciens, arrivent en fin de vie et deviennent des débris spatiaux. Par ailleurs, la gestion du trafic n’existe pas vraiment, faute d’identification de tous les satellites, alors que cela devrait être aussi naturel que le contrôle aérien.
Avec ce texte, nous exigeons que la Commission européenne propose une loi sur le trafic spatial, et ce avant2024, tant au niveau réglementaire qu’au niveau capacitaire. Il faut également que l’Union européenne prenne le leadership mondial sur ce sujet au niveau desNations unies, car, sans coopération internationale, nos efforts pour éviter, entre autres,les débris spatiaux seront vains. Les solutions sont là pour rendre l’espace plus durable. Il est temps de les mettre en œuvre maintenant, sous la direction de l’Europe.
Henrike Hahn (Verts/ALE). – Herr Präsident! Im Weltraum herrscht der Wilde Westen. Was wir dort nicht haben, ist Weltraumverkehrsmanagement, obwohl das naheliegend ist.
Der Krieg in Europa zeigt, wie wichtig ein starkes Satellitensystem für globalen Austausch ist. Wir haben gleichzeitig neue industrielle Trends und eine starke kommerzielle Nutzung des Weltraums. Damit sind die Herausforderungen für Management und für Nachhaltigkeit enorm gestiegen.
Ein EU-Weltraumrecht mit Blick auf eine einheitliche globale Regelung muss sich diesen Herausforderungen jetzt stellen. Und da stellt sich auch die Frage: Welche Maßnahmen in welchem Zeitraum plant hier die Kommission?
Seit vielen Jahren sammeln sich Satelliten und Trümmer in der Umlaufbahn, wir verschicken Hochtechnologie in den Weltraum, ins Weltall, die nach Funktionsende verglüht oder dort verbleibt. Nachhaltigkeit im Raumfahrtsektor ist aber möglich, siehe Hubble-Teleskop.
Deshalb ist es jetzt so wichtig, dass ganz konkrete Maßnahmen von der Kommission vorgelegt werden zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit im Industriesektor Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, zu den Themen Wiederinstandsetzung und Lebenszeitverlängerung durch Design plus Forschungsförderung. Denn auf diese offenen Fragen braucht die europäische Industrie jetzt Antworten zu ihrer Wettbewerbsfähigkeit.
Gilles Lebreton (ID). – Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, grâce à la France, l’Union européenne est une grande puissance spatiale. Cela lui donne des responsabilités, celle notamment de participer à la gestion internationale du trafic spatial. Je salue donc ces efforts pour tenter de régler le problème des débris spatiaux, dont l’augmentation met en péril la sécurité des opérations spatiales. L’exigence de durabilité ne doit pas se borner à l’espace terrestre. Elle doit aussi s’étendre à l’espace extra-atmosphérique.
C’est pourquoi j’approuve les deux orientations fixées par la résolution du Parlement européen: d’une part éviter de générer de nouveaux débris spatiaux, d’autre part nettoyer les débris déjà existants. Ces efforts honoreront l’Union, si l’on accepte de les mettre en œuvremalgré leur coût financier. Grâce à eux, j’espère vivement que l’espace cessera d’être transformé en poubelle. La conquête spatiale est un défi technologique, mais aussi une formidable aventure humaine. Sachons la mener de manière exemplaire.
Πρόεδρος. – Υπάρχει μόνο ένα αίτημα από τον κύριο Nienaß, ο οποίος έχει όμως μιλήσει και ως ομιλητής. Μου λένε οι συνεργάτες μου εδώ ότι ο Κανονισμός δεν απαγορεύει να δοθεί ο λόγος κατά το «catch the eye» σε κάποιον που έχει συμμετάσχει στη συζήτηση. Κατόπιν αυτού κάνω δεκτό το αίτημα του κυρίου Nienaß, γιατί μετείχε συνεχώς, ενεργά και με ενθουσιασμό στη συζήτηση. Κύριε Nienaß έχετε τον λόγο για ένα λεπτό.
Διαδικασία «catch the eye»
Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE). – MrPresident, I want to use the time because there’s another imminent problem that we need to talk about when we’re talking about space debris, and that is, of course, anti—satellite missile testing.
We know that last year the Russians tested missiles in order to destroy their own satellites. We know that the Chinese and the Americans have done the same. And we know that this is very dangerous for peace in outer space, but also for the question of the debris, of space traffic management, as previous speakers have mentioned.
Therefore, I want to ask the Commission what it plans to do about this situation.
We have the proposal from Vice President Kamala Harris for a memorandum of understanding on anti—satellite missile tests. We should now support this initiative and bring it to the international stage to make sure that we never again use anti—satellite missiles, in order to not destroy or threaten our space—based infrastructure.
Can the Commission please comment on whether it wants to support the initiative and be a driving force in this question for the international stage?
Λήξη της διαδικασίας «catch the eye»
Janusz Wojciechowski,Member of the Commission. – MrPresident, honourable Members, I would like to thank you for sharing the Commission’s view that it is an absolutely necessity for the European Union to work on space traffic management, and to implement the approach we have outlined in our joint communication together with the High Representative.
I have carefully listened to the emphasis that several of you put on the need to develop the Union’s space law. As I mentioned in my introductory remarks, we are working on the legislative proposals. What is important in this respect, are three elements.
Firstly, we need to ensure that we get the scope right. This requires consultation with Member States who have so far been the primary actors when it comes to space law and exercising their sovereign rights over their airspace.
Secondly, we need to ensure that such law does not put our industry at a disadvantage to industry in third countries. The way to this to do this is to ensure that obligations developed at the European Union level are imposed to all satellite operators providing services within the European Union. Otherwise, EU legislation will imply additional costs only for EU operators.
Thirdly, we need a holistic approach in this respect. I can already indicate to you that we aim at complementing legislation in the area of STM by further proposals in the field of air traffic management to ensure that there is good coordination between space traffic management on the one side, and air traffic management on the other side.
Honourable Members, let me conclude with a more general remark. STM is not just a technical matter that needs to be addressed to avoid, so that we can also in the future make a safe and sustainable use of space, STM also has a clear strategic and geopolitical dimension. It is as such that we have to deal with STM, which is why I particularly applaud the interest of the European Ϸվ in this matter.
After today’s debate, I know that the Commission and the High Representative can count on your continued support on implementing a European Union approach on STM.
Πρόεδρος. – Έχω λάβει, σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 136 παράγραφος 2 του Κανονισμού, μία προτάση ψηφίσματος*.