Informal meeting of the European space ministers
On 21 and 22 July 2008, Valerie Pécresse, French Minister of Higher Education and Research, received in Kourou her European counterparts in charge of Space for an informal meeting. The ultimate goal of this meeting is the European Council due to take place by the end of the year and which should issue to the adoption of the European Space Policy.
The discussions dealt with the following questions: what may be the role of Space in the fight against climate change? What contribution Space does bring to the Lisbon strategy and to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU and its Member States? What should be Europe's place in the exploration of the solar system? What contribution can Space offer to the security of Europe? What should be the position, organization and capabilities of the EU to act on the international space scene? A discussion on financing and governance of GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) took place on the basis of a Commission document.
In November 2006, the Guiana Space Centre also hosted the European Parliamentarians for a symposium on the role of Space and security in Europe. In February 2008, the French President confirmed the intention of France, to use the presidency of the European Union in 2008, for helping Europe to become a space power in its own right.
For more information visit the official website of the PFUE (French Presidency of the EU)
July 22nd: Last meeting and Valérie Pécresse's Press conference
Last meeting
The last meeting of the informal meeting of the European Ministers charged with space matters, reached a consensus around Valérie Pécresse, the french Minister of Head Education and Research.
Valérie Pécresse's Press conference
Valérie Pécresse, French Minister for Higher education and Research and Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission, have given the conclusions of the French Presidency for this first informal meeting of European Ministers charged with Space.
Read the press release
July, 21st: Visits start
At the S5, Spacecraft preparation building
Joël Barre, Director of the French Guiana Space Centre welcomed the delegation at the spacecraft preparation building S5.
At the Launcher Integration Building
Jean-Yves Legall, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, allowed the european ministers to see the Ariane 5 of the current campaign, at the launcher integration building…
At the launch pad
And the visit continued at the launch pad.
At the Vega launching complex
Jean-Jacques Dordain, Chief Executive Officer of the European Space Agency, presented the futur programme of the launcher Vega in front of the well advanced Vega launching complex.
At the Soyuz launching complex under construction
Jean Marc Astorg, CNES project manager for Soyuz, gave explanations on the imposing Soyuz complex still under construction.
