Question for written answer E-000190/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Lídia Pereira (PPE), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE)
Subject: Involvement of the People’s Republic of China in Portugal’s space programme
The European Space Agency and its Chinese counterpart, CNSA, have a long history of cooperation in sharing scientific information, particularly in the areas of space science, planetary observation and extraplanetary navigation.
Portugal, which has been a member of the European Space Agency since 2000, established the Portuguese Space Agency in March 2019, headquartered in the Azores archipelago. However, a year earlier, as part of the Portugal Space 2030 strategy, the Portuguese Government signed an agreement with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for a joint investment of EUR 50 million in the construction of two space laboratories.
Can the Commission therefore say:
1. Given that the Portugal Space Strategy 2030 is aligned with the European Space Programme, is it aware of the agreement between the Portugal and the PRC?
2. Is it aware of the existence of any consortia established under the business innovation action plans provided for in the Portuguese recovery and resilience plan which involve foreign investment from the PRC?
3. Given the European Union's recently announced goal of strengthening its strategic autonomy, including in aerospace, what are the consequences for cooperation with the PRC?
Supporters(1)
(1) This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Paulo Rangel (PPE), Álvaro Amaro (PPE)