ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Independent access to space, secure satellite communications, Earth observation, coordination on ESA and EU programmes and the European regulatory framework: these are the themes at the center of the joint declaration signed by the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the Authority delegated to the Space and Aerospace Policies, sen. Adolfo Urso, and the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste. The understanding traces the actions on the main dossiers of the space economy in an international scenario characterized by increasing technological competition and global crises that make the spatial dimension increasingly decisive for the security of Europe. “Cooperation with France, enshrined in the Treaty of Quirinale, is essential to strengthen European competitiveness in space. With Minister Baptiste we shared the roadmap for the next few years: from the strengthening of Ariane 6 and Vega-C launchers to the satellite constellations for secure institutional communications, to Earth observation programs,” said Urso. “Rome and Paris, together with Berlin – he added – are the three pillars on which the European Space Agency is founded and on which the ambition of Europe must be the protagonist in space. Our country is ready to lead this challenge, a strong space economy in full expansion with over 300 companies and 17 aerospace districts across the national territory.”.
During the meeting – attended by the President of the Italian Space Agency, Teodoro Valente, and the President of the French Space Agency (CNES), François Jacq – Urso and Baptiste confirmed the importance of fully implementing the agreements of Seville, expressing satisfaction for the recent successes of Vega-C and Ariane 6 and wishing an increase in the cadence of the launches. On the front of satellite constellations, Italy and France are developing feasibility studies for dual-use architectures, civil and military, intrinsically interoperable and fully compatible with the European IRIS2 program. The two ministers agreed to intensify the exchange of information between their respective space agencies, even in the light of the birth of Bromo, the strategic alliance between Leonardo, Thales and Airbus. Regarding the regulatory framework, both countries support a European Space Act oriented to resilience and sustainability, but simple, proportionate and respectful of national skills, avoiding excessive charges for SMEs and startups. The regulation must ensure equal conditions for all operators accessing the European market, including those from third countries.
-The agreement today follows that signed last week with the Minister delegated to the French Industry, Sébastien Martin, as part of the 3rd Franco-Italian Industrial Cooperation Forum, and the meeting with the Minister delegated to the Artificial Intelligence and Digital of France, Anne Le Hénanff. In the first confrontation, Urso and Martin shared the goal of simplifying the European bureaucracy and strengthening competitiveness through the reform of CBAM – which Italy also associates with the revision of the Ets system – the strengthening of value chains with a targeted review of the European Chips Act and the protection of the continent’s automotive industry with the principle “Made in Europe”. Requests that Brussels has accepted, introducing in the Industrial Accelerator Act the principle of “Made in Europe” and inserting the revision of the ETS system on the agenda of the next European Council of 19-20 March. In comparison with the ministra Le Hénanff, on the other hand, Italy and France have strengthened the collaboration on digital transformation, IA and telecommunications: it serves a simplified, clear and without administrative burdens, promoting AI in the European productive fabric to support innovation and technological autonomy.
– Mimit press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
