Mr. Christian CAMBON, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces
Ms. Françoise DUMAS, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee on Defense and Armed
Forces
Mr. Laurent LAFON, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture, Education and Communication
Mr. Roland LESCURE, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Economic Affairs
Ms. Sophie PRIMAS, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs
Mr. Bruno STUDER, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Cultural Affairs and
Education
Paris, 3 February 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen Committee Chairpersons,
Dear colleagues,
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union has begun
in a context with many challenges, in the face of which the Union must consolidate
its achievements and persevere in its fight against the pandemic, in the revival
of the economy, in the consolidation of its social model and in its assertion as a
global driving force in the fight against climate change. At the same time,
however, Europe must renew its ways of thinking to be at the forefront, in
solidarity and autonomy, of the new economy that is emerging.
Naturally, the issues of digital technology and, increasingly, space are
at the centre of this economy. The ever-growing field of digital technologies in
space (energy management through monitoring global warming, new modes of
transport positioning, digitalization of everyday life via connected objects), which
is attracting new private stakeholders (New Space) and generating new areas of
conflict (arms race and anti-satellite launches, military satellite deployments,
espionage) are all economic opportunities and challenges of sovereignty for the
Union and the Member States. This is why we felt it was essential to discuss with
you the
competitiveness of the European space industry in the face of the