10. Authorisation Of Space Activities After The Entry Into Force Of The EU Reform Treaty

Abstract

According to Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty, States Parties to the Treaty shall bear international responsibility for national activities in outer space. In consequence, national space legislation implements different levels of licensing and authorisation procedures in order to fulfil the international obligations. The Legal Sub-Committee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (uncopuos) has installed a Working Group on National Space Legislation with the goal of enhancing the present situation. At the same time, the European Union gained a new explicit space competence by virtue of the Treaty of Lisbon. Will this lead to any effect on European space legislation? The different layers of law between national responsibilities, a European approach for commercial space activities and possible areas of harmonisation is not as obvious as it might seem. This chapter tries to pave the way through this labyrinth. Keywords: European space legislation; Lisbon; Outer Space Treaty; UN space law; uncopuos