Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Space, Cyber, and Regulatory Reform

DBIST & DCMS 22-26 Whitehall

London, SW1A 2EG

Liina Vahtras Minister of Economy and Industry Republic of Estonia By email: [email protected]

T: +44 (0) 020 4551 0011 E: [email protected] W: www.gov.uk

09 Oct. 26

Article 65 of the European Competitiveness Fund

Dear Liina,

I understand that COREPER will discuss Article 65(5) of the European Competitiveness

Fund on Sunday. The outcome will have important implications for Europe’s future access

to space, including whether the EU can draw on secure and capable launch infrastructure

across the wider European space ecosystem.

The United Kingdom strongly supports Europe’s ambition to strengthen its autonomous,

resilient and competitive access to space. Against the backdrop of an unprecedented global

shortage of launch capacity, it is more important than ever that Europe works together to

secure its future access to space. European launch demand is growing, while significant

new capacity will take time to become available. The United Kingdom stands ready to

contribute secure and capable launch infrastructure now.

We believe Europe’s ambition will be best served by preserving the ability to use launch

capability in close partner countries where appropriate security conditions are met. An

unnecessarily restrictive approach would reduce Europe’s available launch capacity and

strategic choice, constrain competition and investment, and risk disadvantaging European

companies that have built their plans around launch from partner territory.

This is also a question of coherence with the Long-term Vision for European Space

Transportation endorsed at the International Space Summit in Paris in September. That

Vision, realised between the European Space Agency and the European Commission,

recognises that Europe’s launch challenges cannot be addressed by any one country alone,

calls for an inclusive approach among European public partners, and understands European

territory as encompassing the respective Member States of both the European Union and

the European Space Agency. Article 65(5) should give practical effect to that shared

commitment, rather than create a new distinction between those same European partners.

I therefore hope that you will support an outcome which preserves a clear and workable

route for EU space assets to launch from the territory of close European partners, including

the United Kingdom, under an appropriate international agreement and with the necessary

security safeguards. In particular, the final text should not make use of trusted partner

territory dependent on undefined “exceptional circumstances” or allow other eligibility

provisions to frustrate activity expressly authorised by such an agreement.

A constructive decision on Sunday would demonstrate that Europe can strengthen its

strategic autonomy while continuing to work pragmatically with its closest partners. I would

be grateful for your support, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation on our shared

space, security and competitiveness priorities.

Yours sincerely,

Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE Minister for Space, Cyber, and Regulatory Reform

Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Space, Cyber, and Regulatory Reform

DBIST & DCMS 22-26 Whitehall

London, SW1A 2EG

Liina Vahtras Minister of Economy and Industry Republic of Estonia By email: [email protected]

T: +44 (0) 020 4551 0011 E: [email protected] W: www.gov.uk

09 Oct. 26

Article 65 of the European Competitiveness Fund

Dear Liina,

I understand that COREPER will discuss Article 65(5) of the European Competitiveness

Fund on Sunday. The outcome will have important implications for Europe’s future access

to space, including whether the EU can draw on secure and capable launch infrastructure

across the wider European space ecosystem.

The United Kingdom strongly supports Europe’s ambition to strengthen its autonomous,

resilient and competitive access to space. Against the backdrop of an unprecedented global

shortage of launch capacity, it is more important than ever that Europe works together to

secure its future access to space. European launch demand is growing, while significant

new capacity will take time to become available. The United Kingdom stands ready to

contribute secure and capable launch infrastructure now.

We believe Europe’s ambition will be best served by preserving the ability to use launch

capability in close partner countries where appropriate security conditions are met. An

unnecessarily restrictive approach would reduce Europe’s available launch capacity and

strategic choice, constrain competition and investment, and risk disadvantaging European

companies that have built their plans around launch from partner territory.

This is also a question of coherence with the Long-term Vision for European Space

Transportation endorsed at the International Space Summit in Paris in September. That

Vision, realised between the European Space Agency and the European Commission,

recognises that Europe’s launch challenges cannot be addressed by any one country alone,

calls for an inclusive approach among European public partners, and understands European

territory as encompassing the respective Member States of both the European Union and

the European Space Agency. Article 65(5) should give practical effect to that shared

commitment, rather than create a new distinction between those same European partners.

I therefore hope that you will support an outcome which preserves a clear and workable

route for EU space assets to launch from the territory of close European partners, including

the United Kingdom, under an appropriate international agreement and with the necessary

security safeguards. In particular, the final text should not make use of trusted partner

territory dependent on undefined “exceptional circumstances” or allow other eligibility

provisions to frustrate activity expressly authorised by such an agreement.

A constructive decision on Sunday would demonstrate that Europe can strengthen its

strategic autonomy while continuing to work pragmatically with its closest partners. I would

be grateful for your support, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation on our shared

space, security and competitiveness priorities.

Yours sincerely,

Baroness Lloyd of Effra CBE Minister for Space, Cyber, and Regulatory Reform