EU Defence Rapporteur (f. Minister) Paet to Eurofora : Space Tech Important for Autonomy

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- EU Parliament's Rapporteur on the European Defence Union, experienced former Foreign Minister of Estonia, who currently Chairs the EU for the period of July - December 2017, Liberal MEP Urmas Paet, replying to an "Eurofora"s Question, confirmed the "Importance" of "Space" High-Tech for the Future Security of Europe.

- "Eurofora" observed the Fact that an EADS' Senior Official, former General, had told us that "Early Warning" Space Technology would be among the main Needs for a possible Autonomy of a European Defence policy.

Already in the Past, when, f.ex., big EU Countries (including mainly France, but also Germany and several others) got a UN Mandate for a succesful International Peace-Keeping operation between Israel and Lebanon, it was the US which had initially Offered to lend its Space Monitoring capabiities to its European Partners, we reminded, among others, asking Paet his view about such matters.

- "Indeed, Space Technologies will be very Important, for the European Defence", positively Replied the competent EU Parliament's Rapporteur to "Eurofora"s above-mentioned Question.

 - "However", due attention must also be given to the fact that "Space Tech. are, often, quite Expensive", he Carefully added.

 - Paets had earlier Advised, as a matter of General Principle, for All relevant EU Military and/or "Dual Technologies" Industries to avoid eventual excessive risks on the available EU Budgets.

- But, the Fact that EU has just Decided to set up, for the 1st Time in History, a European "Fund" for its own Defence policy Needs, is due to certainly Help Boost Europe's Security in the foreseeable Future, because it will contribute a Concrete and Practical, Permanent New Mechanism continuously working for that purpose, he also observed.

Notoriously, moreover, the USA has traditionaly used  its own Defence Commands to Big Industry also in order to, selectively, Boost High-Tech Innovations, often beneficial even for the development of subsequent Civil industrial applications helping the overall Economy.

- Both for this, and other practical reasons, the EU Parliament's competent Rapporteur expressed clear Optimism that, "for the 1st Time in History", after too Long Delays and/or Postponements in the Past, EU is Now expected to Mark some Real Advances ahead in the Creation of autonomous European Defence capabilities, from the coming years.

- But, it's going to be a long, unfolding Process, until it would be Completely achieved, Paet also warned, inviting for both Optimism and Voluntarism in the foreseeable Future.

- He, however, agreed that it might  not yet be adequate to speak about "Strategic Autonomy" for EU Defence, in order to avoid deceptions or provocations, since that would require much more Time and Political Decisions, later-on.

 - In this regard, EU Parliament's Rapporteur appeared enclined to consider another, more adequate term, for now, as. f.ex., that of "Operational Autonomy", recently used also by new French President Emmanuel Macron, etc., which could be, at least for the moment, both more realistic and flexible, able to move on further asap.