VZCZCXRO0739
RR RUEHAG RUEHBW RUEHDF RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0652/01 1201324
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291324Z APR 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OES/SAT 
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND EU EUN TSPA TSPL
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO RECOMMEND USE OF SPACE 
ASSETS IN EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY-RESPONSE TO 
C-WP7-02359 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 651 
 
¶1. (U) The European Parliament is set to adopt a resolution 
on "the contribution of space assets to ESDP" (European 
Security and Defense Policy) in July of this year.  The 
current text of the resolution, as drafted by the chairman of 
the Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense (SEDE) 
Karl Von Wogau, stresses the necessity of the EU's satellite 
navigation system Galileo for "autonomous ESDP operations, 
for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and for 
Europe's own security."  Even though the Parliament's 
resolution--once adopted--will not have any binding effect, 
it marks a further shift in the debate among European 
policy-makers on a possible military use of Galileo, once it 
becomes operational in 2013. 
 
¶2. (U) At its inception in 1999, the European Commission 
presented Galileo as a European satellite navigation system 
designed specifically for civilian and commercial purposes 
and controlled by civil management.  Already in 2003, 
individual European Parliamentarians suggested the military 
use of Galileo.  In May 2007, when it presented its proposals 
for public financing of Galileo after a public-private 
partnership had collapsed, the Commission took the view that 
civilian space programs, such as Galileo, have a multiple-use 
capacity and may have military users. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Beyond Galileo, MEP Von Wogau's draft resolution 
urges the EU and NATO to "launch a strategic dialogue on 
space policy and missile defense; especially on the 
complementarity and interoperability of systems for satellite 
communications, space surveillance, and early warning of 
ballistic missiles, as well as protection of European forces 
by a theater missile defense system." It calls upon "the 
European Union and the United States of America to engage in 
a strategic dialogue on the use of space assets." (Note: The 
European Commission has asked for a similar discussion to 
take place during the U.S.-EU Civil Space Dialogue this May 
in Brussels.  End note.) 
 
¶4. (SBU) The draft resolution also calls for several steps 
defining an international regime for uses of space. 
Specifically, the resolution concentrates on transparency and 
the application of peaceful uses of space, within the 
frameworks of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer 
Space and the UN Conference on Disarmament.  Additionally, in 
requesting international actors to refrain from the use of 
offensive weapons in outer space, the resolution condemns the 
action taken by China in January, 2007, in its test of an 
anti-satellite weapon, which generated a marked increase in 
the levels of long-life space debris.  In calling for an 
increase in international transparency, the draft resolution 
requests that all nations register all satellites, including 
military satellites.  (Note: Commission and Member State 
representatives have indicated to USEU EconOffs that Europe 
is looking to develop a domestic space situational awareness 
capability so that it no longer needs to rely on U.S. 
reporting of satellites. End note.) 
 
¶5. (U) In addition of the use of Galileo for ESDP operations, 
MEP Von Wogau's draft report discusses: 
 
--the need for EU member states to "pool and exchange the 
geospatial intelligence necessary for autonomous EU threat 
assessment"; 
--the use, coordination and compatibility of earth 
observation and reconnaissance instruments; 
--the importance for ESDP of satellite telecommunication 
systems; 
--the creation of a European space surveillance system; 
--the development of a European capability for 
satellite-based early warning against ballistic missile 
launches; 
--the exchange of signal intelligence at European level; 
--secure, independent and sustainable access to space for the 
EU; 
--the need for the EU to set up an operational budget for 
space assets that serve to support ESDP and European security 
interests; 
--the necessity to protect the EU's space infrastructure. 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00000652  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: From several public statements among 
Parliamentarians, as well as private comments made to USEU 
EconOffs from Member State representatives, the drive for 
increased use of space assets in security settings appears to 
be two-fold.  First, much of this infrastructure is being 
developed through public funds, and as many Europeans hope, 
using exclusively European components, thereby producing 
ITAR-free systems.  (Note: Galileo appears to be an 
exception.  See reference cable for details.  End note.)  As 
such, many government officials consider it to be completely 
illogical that Europe would withhold the best technology 
available from use in protecting its borders or by European 
military personnel "putting their lives in danger" in combat 
zones.  In the case of Galileo, MEP von Wogau has stated 
previously that if Galileo is transmitting signals anyway, 
there is no reason that applications should not be developed 
to take advantage of them.  The second piece is a 
continuation of the European push to develop strategic 
independence from the U.S.  While Europe intends to continue 
discussions and cooperation with the U.S. on aspects related 
to space, it is displaying a desire to move from being a 
dependent user of U.S. capabilities to becoming closer to an 
equal partner.  There remains an inherent belief in many 
Europeans that the U.S. has taken strides to limit Europe's 
development, and this belief tends to increase European 
resolve to move forward.  As in the case of Galileo, several 
Europeans have commented to USEU EconOffs that early U.S. 
opposition to Galileo was possibly the strongest driving 
force to advancing the program. End comment. 
 
MURRAY 
.