Paper Titles & Abstracts

Since the launch of the European Space Policy in 2007, there has been intense speculation what kind of profile such a policy might eventually assume. The discussion surrounding European Space Policy has focused on this policy conceived as another step towards more perfect integration, where crucial services and networks are regulated, financed, and structured on the European level. However, even mainstream debate has focused on the potential gains for European citizens and economy in general, European Space Policy has more important meaning for the global role of European Union and its relations with neighbouring regions like Africa. The article tries to answer the question how the European policy towards Africa has been framed by European Space Policy in terms of strategy, financial support, and broad vision of European global role. First, it assesses the political and strategic reasoning behind the launch of the European Space Policy in 2007 in a context marked by relations with broader world. It analyses different and competing frames in Commission and European Parliament, of the EU's objectives and rationale. Secondly, it offers an analysis of main structural elements of European approach towards Africa in regards to European space policy related to economy, ideology, and socio-political profile of key decision makers. Thirdly, it showcases the key projects in European space policy, which have been applied and might be applied in Africa, demonstrating the gradual emergence of unique European approach to space applications. Fourthly, it focuses in some detail on evolving frames of European space applications in Africa which inform the debates and decisions taken on the European level. Finally in conclusion the paper draws some proposals on implications of space applications in Africa for European space policy and broader relations between Europe and Africa, as a mature frame of space cooperation between these two regions.