Brussels, Jan. 12, 2021 (Lusa) – The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stressed on Tuesday that space has "a direct impact" on Europe's geopolitical goal of achieving strategic autonomy and said that "a robust space sector is essential for a robust Europe".

"Europe is already a great power in space. If we want to be stronger and more self-confident on the global stage, we also need to be stronger in space," Charles Michel stressed during a speech at the European Space Conference.

To this end, he said that the EU must ensure "safe, autonomous, reliable and viable" access to space and ensure that space activity is "innovative and sustainable".

"How we manage space traffic and space debris will also be a challenge. Europe, as a leader in multilateral cooperation, has a key role to play in protecting the collective global interest", he stressed.

In addition to the impact that space has on the geopolitical landscape, Charles Michel also mentioned the role that space policy plays in both climate transition and digital transition.

"In the area of digital, space communications are creating great opportunities. Low-orbit satellite projects in particular should enable the development of broadband connectivity, a key element for our digital transition," he stressed.

Charles Michel thus stated that "a robust European space sector is essential for a robust Europe" and, addressing the summit participants, he described space as "a new dream for Europe".

"The conquest of space invokes our dream like no other. You are at the forefront of Europe's future, the new dream of Europe. You can count on Europe to support you, just as Europe counts on you", concluded the President of the European Council.

Charles Michel attended the opening session of the European Space Conference, which was also attended by the Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, who highlighted the creation of a "Space for People" as the "main objective" of the Portuguese presidency of the EU Council.

"Our main objective is the mobilisation of each actor - both institutional actors and the European business sector - in a European approach to Space that is geared towards our citizens. A new Space for People", the minister stressed.

The European Space Conference - which started today and ends on Wednesday - brings together European leaders, ministers and business figures and has as its theme the "place of space in a changing world".

TEYA/AYLS // AYLS

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