VZCZCXRO8764
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #8300/01 0832203
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 242145Z MAR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE IMMEDIATE 9809
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0278
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2996
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 7547
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 4381
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3571
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 9958
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 6950
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 5583
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 5617
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3227
RUEHLE/AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG 5517
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1141
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 4775
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 4689
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6414
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 028300 
 
SIPDIS 
GENEVA FOR CD DEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019 
TAGS: ESA EUN EZ FR GM MCAP NASA NATO PARM PREL TSPA XG XT
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER FOR EUROPEAN UNION ON U.S. SPACE 
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS POLICY 
 
REF: 08 STATE 70174 
 
Classified By: ISN - Acting A/S C.S. Eliot Kang, Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. See paragraph 3 below. 
 
¶2. (U) BACKGROUND: At a European Council summit in December 
2008, EU Heads of State and Government endorsed efforts to 
pursue space situational awareness (SSA) and other space 
capabilities as part of the European Security and Defense 
Policy.  This endorsement followed an "European Space 
Council" meeting of EU research ministers in September 2008, 
which endorsed the development of independent European 
capabilities for monitoring and surveillance of active space 
objects and space debris. 
 
(U) In anticipation of these decisions, the Department -- in 
conjunction with the Department of Defense -- in early 2008 
began to conduct a coordinated series of bilateral dialogues 
on SSA cooperation with key EU member states as well as with 
the European Commission and European Space Agency (REFTEL). 
These discussions have included two technical expert 
workshops hosted by the Department in Washington, D.C., in 
June 2008 and with the European Space Agency (ESA) in 
Darmstadt, Germany, on February 24-25, 2009. 
 
(SBU) While these workshops have facilitated cooperation with 
ESA on many technical issues, the two workshops also 
identified the need for a parallel and complementary dialogue 
with the European Union (EU) regarding the military and other 
security aspects of a European SSA capability.  These 
security matters largely fall outside the charter and 
"competences" of ESA, which focuses on the development and 
acquisition of technical capabilities. 
 
(C) The need for a direct dialogue between the U.S. and EU 
was also noted in bilateral Space Security Dialogue exchanges 
with Germany and France in October and December 2008.  In 
these discussions, MFA and Ministry of Defense space policy 
experts in Berlin and Paris urged their counterparts in 
Washington to directly approach the Presidency and Council of 
the European Union, which supervise the work of the EU 
Military Staff and the European Defense Agency (EDA).  In 
parallel to the Department's discussions with the EU, 
Washington also intends to examine existing NATO roles, 
policies, and capabilities related to the use of space; to 
assess which new space initiatives for NATO might be 
desirable; and to have the option to initiate discussions in 
NATO-EU channels to ensure that NATO and EU space activities 
are mutually reinforcing. 
 
(U)  ESA experts report that they are now regularly meeting 
with counterparts from the European Commission, the European 
Council's General Secretariat and the EDA as a part of an 
"SSA Steering Board."  Over three years, the board will 
conduct a study of "governance and data policy," including 
protection of "sensitive data."  This board will also review 
the results of an advisory "User's Representative Group," 
which includes representatives of the EU Military Staff, EDA, 
European Commission, and the Ministries of Defense of France, 
Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, Spain, and 
Belgium, as well as European commercial satellite operators 
(e.g., Inmarsat, SES, and Eutelsat). 
 
(U) The Joint ESA-EU "SSA Preparatory Program" is scheduled 
to conclude in 2011, with results reviewed by EU and ESA 
Ministers.  If successful, this program may lead to 
 
STATE 00028300  002 OF 004 
 
 
"implementation of a fully operational SSA system" during 
2012-2019. 
 
¶3. (U) Action Request. 
 
a. (SBU) For USEU: Jeffrey Miotke, Deputy Assistant Secretary 
of State for Science, Space and Health  is scheduled to 
deliver the U.S. non-paper (contained in paragraph 4 below) 
to Paul Weissenberg, Director of the Aerospace, GMES, 
Security and Defense Directorate in the European Commission's 
Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, at 
approximately Noon, Central European Time, on March 25 in 
Brussels. After delivery by DAS Miotke, USEU is requested to 
deliver the U.S. non-paper to the Defense Policy and 
Capabilities Unit of the General Secretariat of the Council 
of the European Union, or to other appropriate EU officials. 
USEU should indicate that the U.S. also welcomes further 
exchanges on this topic with EU Member State experts.  Post 
should note that the U.S. non-paper is marked "For Government 
Use Only" and request that the non-paper be handled in the 
same manner as "Restreint UE" information. 
 
b. (SBU) For Prague: Embassy is requested to deliver the U.S. 
non-paper (contained in paragraph 4 below) to the Czech 
Presidency of the EU (Mr. Jiri Svoboda, Head of  the 
Disarmament and Conventional Arms Unit within the MFA), 
and/or to other appropriate MFA officials no earlier than 
2:00 p.m., Central European Time, on March 25.  Embassy also 
should indicate that the U.S. welcomes further exchanges on 
this topic with the Czech Republic and with future EU 
Presidencies.  Post should note that the U.S non-paper is 
marked "For Government Use Only" and request that the 
non-paper be handled in the same manner as "Restreint UE" 
information. 
 
c. (SBU) For Paris: Embassy is requested to deliver the U.S. 
non-paper contained in paragraph 4 to Rosine Couchoud of the 
French MFA, or to other appropriate MFA officials, no earlier 
than March 26.  Embassy should also indicate that the U.S. 
welcomes continued close collaboration with France on this 
matter.  Embassy is also requested to deliver the U.S. 
non-paper to the Director General of the European Space 
Agency, or to other appropriate ESA officials, no earlier 
than 2:00 p.m. Central European Time, on March 25.  Embassy 
should indicate that the U.S. welcomes continued dialogue on 
SSA with ESA and with experts from ESA Member States.  Post 
also should note to ESA that the U.S. non-paper is marked 
"For Government Use Only" and request appropriate handling 
within ESA channels. 
 
d. (SBU) For London: Embassy is requested to deliver the U.S. 
non-paper contained in paragraph 4 to John Saltford of the UK 
FCO and to Richard Crowther of the British National Space 
Center, and/or to other appropriate FCO and BNSC officials, 
no earlier than March 26.  Embassy also should note that the 
U.S. welcomes continued close consultations with HMG on 
governance and security issues. 
 
e. (SBU) For Berlin, Rome and Ottawa: Embassies are requested 
to deliver the U.S. non-paper contained in paragraph 4 to 
space security policy experts at each Host Nation's MFA no 
earlier than March 26.  Embassies should indicate the U.S. 
welcomes opportunities for discussions on SSA in future 
bilateral space security dialogues. 
 
f. (SBU) For Oslo: Embassy is requested to deliver the U.S. 
non-paper contained in paragraph 4 to space security policy 
experts at the Norwegian MFA and Ministry of Defense no 
earlier than March 26.  Embassy should indicate that the U.S. 
welcomes opportunities for discussion on the ESA and EU SSA 
initiatives in both diplomatic and military-to-military 
dialogues. 
 
STATE 00028300  003 OF 004 
 
 
 
g. (SBU) For Stockholm: Embassy is requested to deliver the 
U.S. non-paper contained to Ronnie Nilsson of the Swedish 
MFA, or to other appropriate MFA officials, no earlier than 
March 26.  Embassy also should indicate that the U.S. 
welcomes further exchanges on this topic with Sweden during 
its forthcoming EU Council Presidency. 
 
¶4. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF U.S. NON-PAPER: 
 
FOR GOVERNMENT USE ONLY 
 
Non-Paper 
March 23, 2009 
 
- The United States of America notes the successful range of 
cooperative trans-Atlantic programs related to outer space 
and proposes an expansion of the existing U.S.-EU dialogue to 
improve cooperation using space-based technologies to respond 
to the common challenges of the 21st Century. 
-- In proposing this expanded dialogue, the United States 
reiterates its view that efforts with friends and allies in 
Europe to pursue improved and interoperable space 
capabilities can enhance our capabilities to protect and 
promote common trans-Atlantic foreign policy, security and 
economic interests. 
 
- In particular, the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) 
initiatives of the European Union and European Space Agency 
offer an important opportunity to improve our shared ability 
both to protect critical space infrastructures and to promote 
safe and responsible operations in outer space. 
-- The United States notes the European Council's support, at 
its meeting in Brussels during December 11-12, 2008, for 
efforts to pursue space situational awareness and a range of 
other space capabilities as part of the European Security and 
Defense Policy (ESDP). 
-- The United States also notes the September 26, 2008, 
resolution of the European Space Council, which underlined 
the need for the development of a European capability for the 
monitoring and surveillance of European space infrastructure 
and of space debris. 
 
- In this regard, the United States is pleased to note that 
it is already participating in an expanded and evolving 
dialogue with both the European Union and European Space 
Agency on space security policy and specifically on space 
situational awareness cooperation. 
-- The role of space in supporting U.S. and European security 
policies has been addressed at annual U.S.-EU Civil Space 
Dialogues held in Washington in April 2007 and in Brussels in 
May 2008. 
-- In June 2008, the U.S. Department of State hosted a 
technical meeting in Washington, D.C., between experts from 
the United States and their counterparts from ESA and the 
European Commission. 
-- During February 24-25, 2009, ESA hosted a subsequent 
technical meeting in Darmstadt, Germany, where experts from 
the United States and Europe discussed standards for space 
object survey and tracking as well as opportunities for 
expanded cooperation in space weather monitoring. 
-- The United States welcomes additional opportunities for 
further discussions with ESA and ESA Member State space 
experts on cooperation regarding elements of the Space 
Situational Awareness initiative that was approved by the ESA 
Ministerial Council on November 26, 2008. 
 
- The United States also notes the European Commission's 
proposal to convene an experts meeting on commercial 
satellite critical infrastructure protection (CIP) in 
mid-2009 in Brussels and agrees in principle with this 
proposal. 
 
STATE 00028300  004 OF 004 
 
 
 
- As technical discussions on trans-Atlantic SSA issues 
progress between the United States and ESA, the United States 
believes it is important also to pursue discussions at the 
policy level with relevant European Union and other 
institutions as well as Member States of both the EU and ESA, 
in order to: 
-- Identify appropriate venues and opportunities for expanded 
trans-Atlantic cooperation on space situational awareness in 
support of common civil, commercial and military requirements; 
-- Clarify the security aspects of enhanced SSA capabilities 
and their potential implications for shared economic and 
national security interests; 
-- Discuss approaches for broader SSA cooperation with our 
friends and allies in other regions; and 
-- Address policy issues associated with the protection of 
critical commercial satellite infrastructures, including the 
protection of critical infrastructure data provided by 
private sector satellite operators. 
 
- U.S.-EU elements of such a space security dialogue can 
build upon the existing strategic-level civil Dialogue on 
Civil Space Cooperation that the U.S. is conducting with the 
European Commission as well as ongoing bilateral exchanges 
that the U.S. is conducting with individual EU and ESA Member 
States regarding national security space policies and 
activities. 
 
- Such a space security dialogue also could complement 
related discussions of the role of space capabilities in 
support of both national and multinational efforts, such as 
those of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 
 
- To begin this expanded dialogue, the United States proposes 
to commence discussions between U.S. and EU experts on SSA 
security policy issues later this spring, with the results of 
these initial discussions reported -- along with the results 
of technical expert discussions on commercial satellite 
infrastructure protection -- at the Fourth U.S.-EU Dialogue 
on Civil Space Cooperation later this year in Washington, D.C. 
 
END TEXT OF U.S. NON-PAPER. 
 
¶5. (SBU) For USNATO: FYI to use as reference in current and 
future affairs to clarify the space dimensions of U.S., 
Allied national and NATO operations. 
 
¶6. (U) Any inquiries on this subject should be referred to 
the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation 
(PoC: Richard Buenneke, 1-202-647-3731; buennekerh@state.gov) 
and the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (PoC: 
David Turner: 1-202-663-2397, turnerda@state.gov). 
CLINTON