Munich

The European Union (EU) needs a joint space-based military observation system to allow it to act for itself in global crises, says the union's research commissioner.

Speaking on 19 March at a conference on European security in Brussels, Philippe Busquin called for a research programme to aid in the development of such a system.

Satellites for military reconnaissance and intelligence gathering are being developed by at least four EU member states — but each is based on independent technologies.

“Security must be a key element of a European space policy,” Busquin said. “There should be no reason why Europe cannot develop the space assets that are fundamental to any credible security policy.”

But according to some estimates, a common EU satellite-monitoring system would cost about €8 billion (US$8.5 billion).

In January, the Greek EU presidency proposed a European agency similar to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which supports defence projects in many fields (see Nature 421, 465; 200310.1038/421465a). The European Commission will this year ask representatives from member states, industry and research organizations to draft a defence-research agenda for the EU.