Press Release: First ever ‘Space Council’ paves the way for a European space programme

The first ever European 'Space Council' took place in Brussels 25 November 2004. This is a major political milestone for Europe in Space, offering ministers representing the 27 European Union (EU) and/or European Space Agency (ESA) Member States the first opportunity to jointly discuss the development of a coherent overall European space programme. In the footprint of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed by the Heads of State or Government of the European Union on 29 October and defining for the first time 'space' as a shared competence of the Union, the Space Council acknowledges the importance of space activities for a wide range of European policies.

• Primary Source

ESA: Press Release, No.61, 2004 http://www.esa.int/For_Media/Press_Releases/First_Space_Council_to_set_course_towards_a_European_Space_Programme

European Commission: DG Enterprise and Industry: Policies: Space http://ec.europa.eu/comm/spacehttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/space/index_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/04/323 http://consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/intm/82805.pdf

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