Bremen, GERMANY \u2014 The European Commission is drawing up a list of military-ready satellite services that would be useful for capitals under a brand new EU constellation, Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Euractiv.<\/p>\n
As part of efforts to bolster the bloc\u2019s defences, the EU wants to launch a project that would see billions of euros invested in satellites capable of beaming high-definition imagery of any location on Earth back to governments at intervals of around 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the geointelligence data is much needed. we shall look also into the possibility, in the first stage\u2026 to use commercial data, and to look at how we can integrate national assets, then in parallel build a whole new EU system,\u201d Kubilius said.<\/p>\n
A review of the necessary user requirements should be ready in the new year, the ex-Lithuanian leader added, with talks then also contingent on how the funds earmarked for defence and space are carved up in the EU\u2019s next long-term budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMember states are asking and we are preparing what is called user requirements \u2013 what do they need specifically,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a crucial, strategic project.\u201d<\/p>\n While billions will be needed from the EU budget<\/a>, member countries of the European Space Agency (ESA) \u2013 which overlap with the EU but also include Switzerland, Norway, and the UK \u2013 agreed last week to provide \u20ac1.2 billion toward early work on the scheme.<\/p>\n In addition to observation systems, the programme would also have navigation and communication components.<\/p>\n ESA ministers have been given another year to decide whether they want to contribute further funding, officials confirmed after a ministerial meeting in Bremen<\/a>, with weekly talks underway with the Commission\u2019 technical experts on the constellation\u2019s final design.<\/p>\n