Involving the Central European countries in the European Space Policy: how not to miss the opportunity

Abstract

The enlargement of the European Union (EU) to 25 states has given the new members in Central Europe the opportunity, via EU–ESA collaboration to develop a European Space Policy, to increase importance of space activities in their internal politics. Space activities could become note worthy drivers of economic transition in these countries’ attempt to bridge the developmental gap with the older EU members. It is time, therefore, to pose questions on how this can be done in a way that will be most efficient and will also enhance the European space programme overall. Governments and public opinion in Central Europe are largely unaware of the practical benefits of space applications; much more needs to be done to demonstrate their utility, cooperative ventures with ESA being one possibility. Such cooperation must allow national scientists a leading role in order to be effective, however. EU structural funding is the logical way to support the Central European states’ nascent space activities.