European Space Agency, ESA

(Photo: Notat)

European Space Agency, ESA

This organisation aims at fostering co-operation in space research, for peaceful use, between its members. It is not an EU agency, but works closely with the Commission and is, for example, participating in the development of the GALILEO navigation system.

The Commission has produced a Green Paper on Europe in space. Here the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is coupled with the military uses of space.

The Lisbon Treaty has a special chapter on space policy, see aricles 189-190 TFEU where decisions can be taken by qualified majority.

http://www.esa.int