EU INITIATIVES ON SPACE BASED SECURED CONNECTIVITY AND SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

On 15 February the European Commission launched two initiatives: a proposal for a Regulation on a space-based secure connectivity and a Joint Communication on an EU approach on Space Traffic Management (STM). The two initiatives follow the Commission's Action Plan on Synergies between civil, defence and space industries.

The press release can be found here.

Space-based secure connectivity

This proposal aims to develop a secure and autonomous space-based connectivity system for the provision of guaranteed and resilient satellite communications. The Commission will ensure the long-term availability to governmental users of worldwide reliable, secure and cost-effective satellite communications services that support protection of critical infrastructures, surveillance, external actions and crisis management. Moreover, the proposal will allow the commercial high-speed broadband availability throughout Europe, removing dead zones and ensuring cohesion across Member State territories.

The Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 can be downloaded from here.

Timeline of the initiative:

2023: initial development and deployment.

2025: provision of initial services and in-orbit test of quantum cryptography.

2028: full deployment.

Space Traffic Management

The objective of this Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative is to set out a concrete EU approach on STM for a safe, sustainable and secure use of space. The Commission aims to preserve the EU interests in full compliance with the respective competences of the EU and its Member States.

The Joint Communication: An EU Approach for Space Traffic Management - An EU contribution addressing a global challenge can be downloaded from here.

Next steps: Within the next 4 months, a consultation process will be launched with all relevant stakeholders to assess the needs and impact of STM on the various policy areas of the Union.

BEREC

BEREC published a response to the public consultation on the draft revised European Commission Guidelines on State aid for broadband networks.  According to BEREC the dispute settlement on access products, conditions and pricing regarding State aid should be mandated to the National regulatory authorities (NRAs). Member States should ensure that the NRAs are provided with sufficient resources and competencies.

More information can be found here.

2022 STRATEGIC FORESIGHT REPORT: CALL FOR EVIDENCE

The European Commission launched a call for evidence on the 2022 Strategic Foresight Report – better understanding the twinning between the green and digital transitions. The initiative aims to ensure a better understanding of the twinning of the green and the digital transitions. It will clarify how they can mutually reinforce each other, in particular through the use of emerging technologies.

More information can be found here.

Feedback period: 17 February 2022 - 17 March 2022  (midnight Brussels time).

NEXTGENERATIONEU: SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

The European Commission published a Semi-annual report on the execution of NextGenerationEU funding operations covering the period June-December 2021. The report provides details on a number of key statistics related to NextGenerationEU borrowing, such as the total funds the Commission raised for the programme in 2021 (€71 billion in long-term funding) and the total funds it disbursed to Member States under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) (€64 billion) and to other programmes under the EU budget.

The Semi-annual report on the execution of NextGenerationEU funding operations can be downloaded here.
CYBERSECURITY

On 16 February the Governing Board of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre met for the second time, gathering representatives from the Member States, the Commission and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, ENISA.

During the meeting Mr Pascal Steichen from Luxembourg was elected as the new Chairmain of the Governing board. Furthermore the list of National Coordination Centres, officially appointed by the Member States, was ratified by the board and published.

More information can be found here.

COORDINATED ENFORCEMENT ON THE USE OF CLOUD BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR

On 15 February the European Data Protection Board started the first coordinated enforcement action of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). In the coming months, 22 national supervisory authorities  will launch investigations into the use of cloud-based services by the public sector.

The results will be analysed in a coordinated manner and the Supervisory Authorities will decide on the possible further national supervision and enforcement actions. In addition, the results will be aggregated, generating deeper insight into the topic and allowing targeted follow-up at EU level.

More information can be found here.

Next steps:The EDPB will publish a report on the outcome of this analysis before the end of 2022.