French President Urges Reshaping Of European Space Sector

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Jacques Chirac - AFP Photo

Paris (AFP) Apr 15, 2003
President Jacques Chirac has said today at the cabinet meeting that the "reorganization" of the European space sector is "absolutely necessary" in order to preserve "the autonomy" of Europe, in particular in the field of launchers.

Research Minister Claudie Haignere presented to the cabinet a message on France's space policy, which is aimed at "making reliable" the launcher Ariane 5 - following the failure [in December] of Flight 517 - and "ensuring the sector's long-term future, on economic bases acceptable to all the players".

Mr Chirac, whose remarks were reported by the government spokesman, Jean-Francois Cope, said that "the domination of space was a strategic challenge". He stressed that "France has invested a great deal in it" and that it "must play a driving role in ensuring Europe maintains its autonomy of access to space".

"That is why the reorganization of our space sector is absolutely necessary. It has been put off for too long, and that has done us no favours," the president said...

France hopes that the forthcoming conference of the European Space Agency (ESA) will "validate" in May "the scenario of relaunch of the 10-tonne version of Ariane 5," Ms Haignere said at the cabinet meeting.

"The launcher sector is the first aim we must set ourselves, since we need a reliable, competitive launcher in order to be present on the institutional launch market and the commercial market," she added in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace [Chirac's office].

It is also necessary to "take to the European Union level" a European space policy which today involves "intergovernmental" cooperation. "The aspect of funding by the European Union will be part of the discussions," she said.

The French government hopes to reorganize the whole of the launcher sector by increasing "the responsibilities entrusted to manufacturers," according to the report [by Cope].

It also calls for a clarification of the "division of roles" between institutions - the European Space Agency, the National Space Studies Centre (CNES) - and manufacturers.

"I give all my support to the action undertaken by the space minister," said Mr Chirac.

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