Comparative analysis of selected european member states on civil-military cooperation for the establishment of space traffic management in Europe

The objective of this paper is to provide an up-to date overview and holistic assessment of the development of a Space Traffic Management (STM) regime in Europe, as seen in the context of European space and security strategies and policies, programmes and governance structures. Most recent STM policy references in Europe include the European Commission's (EC) 2016 'Space Strategy for Europe' and the European Space Agency (ESA) 2016 Council announcement at Ministerial level calling for further engagement in STM. At the same time, the distinctive civil-military governance structures reflected in the context of European Member States space and security strategies, policies and programmes pose legal and policy challenges to STM. Accordingly, the first part of the paper presents STM related priorities and trends in national space and security strategies of selected European Member States, ESA and the EU. The second part of the paper examines how the civil-military nexus influences the STM governance of national space and security activities and programmes. The final part emphasizes the need for cooperation and synergies among all stakeholders at European-institutional and national level for the further establishment of a comprehensive space traffic management regime in Europe.