Space Capabilities for Crisis Management: Reducing Gaps, Improving Action
While Space activities in Europe began during the Cold war era, European expertise in space has gradually been viewed for only two decades as matching the needs for security and crisis management facing the European Union (EU). Today, however, substantial challenges remain in order to make space systems a more active and efficient segment in the European security chain.
Space-based capabilities are one of many elements required for effective crisis response. Organizing such capabilities for improved response will mean tackling issues dealing with independent and effective decision-making mechanisms and improved performance and responsiveness. Such ambitions call for dedicated systems whose use and performances can be guaranteed whenever and wherever required.
This study seeks to identify the existing gaps and necessary efforts which will need to be provided in light of an already well-documented experience in European R&D efforts devoted to the use of space for crisis response. It also provides some elements regarding future strategies allowing Europe to fulfil its goals in the most efficient and affordable way.
