Doc. 9261
8 October 2001

Space policy ethics

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Roseta and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      The Assembly is aware of the importance of space activities for humankind as a whole and that scientific and technological developments in space exploration give rise to new benefits, but also to new challenges.

      Space technologies require substantial investment and have implications in strategic terms and for international prestige.

      Access to outer space and the exploration of the universe raise questions not only as to their aims, but also about the level of acceptability to public opinion as regards the extent of their cost and their fairness. Ethical consideration needs to be international, for outer space has been recognised as humankind’s common heritage.

      The aim of an ethical approach to space policy is to bear in mind the primacy, dignity and rights of the human being, and to react to public anxieties with objectivity, independence and transparency. An approach of this kind prompts an evaluation of the degree of freedom of human beings in the face of the progress of knowledge and know-how in the space sector.

      The Assembly takes the view that space activities need a precise legal framework based on ethical principles accepted by all who are involved in them.

      It therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

-       take steps with a view to establishing an international regulatory framework governing the ethics of space exploration;

-       define means of supervising the use of data derived from the application of space technologies;

-       take appropriate steps with a view to efficient risk management;

-       draw up an international convention to limit pollution resulting from space activities.

Signed : ¹

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Baciu, Romania, SOC

Billing, Sweden, EDG

de Puig, Spain, SOC

Duka-Zolyomi, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Galoyan, Armenia, EPP/CD

Jäger, Germany, SOC

Kalkan, Turkey, EDG

Kiely, Ireland, LDR

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Pintat, Andorra, LDR

Rakhansky, Ukraine, UEL

Schicker, Austria, SOC

Sudarenkov, Russia, SOC

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Velikov, Bulgaria, NR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group