Multilateral negotiations on space issues

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In addition to its involvement in negotiations within the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and implementation of the European space policy, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs takes part in work on space-related matters examined within United Nations forums.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs also participates in international satellite organizations, namely EUTELSAT IGO, the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) (which oversee the companies Eutelsat, Inmarsat and Intelsat, respectively), along with the Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE) of the Ministry for the Economy and Finance.

Lastly, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs takes part in developing France’s positions at the meetings of the Cospas-Sarsat (International Satellite System for Search and Rescue) organization.

United Nations organizations and space security

Space issues are examined within two United Nations forums: the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the Conference on Disarmament.

• As the forum for the development of international space law, COPUOS has concluded five UN treaties on outer space, as well as sets of principles adopted by the General Assembly and the resolutions specifying the implementation of this law. COPUOS and its two subcommittees (Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee) examine subjects such as space debris, the use of space-based systems for disaster management, nuclear power sources in space and the registration of objects launched into outer space. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs helps ensure the coherence of French and European positions within these multilateral forums, in particular concerning the compatibility of programme aspects of missions carried out within the European framework (European Union, European Space Agency) with international space law.

During the 52^nd session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 2009, at France’s initiative, a new item was added to the agenda of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee meeting in February 2010 on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. This issue, examined for the first time in 2010, covers a wide range of topics (space debris, space traffic management, the effect of space weather on space operations, etc.) affecting space operations conducted by States or international organizations as well as the activities of satellite operators.

After nearly seven years of work within expert groups and a working group, discussions on this subject are in their final phase. France is committed to achieving, by the end of the working group’s term in June 2018, an agreement on a robust and coherent set of guidelines that will improve the security of space operations.

• The Conference on Disarmament includes an agenda item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”. Furthermore, in response to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/75 (2007), the European Union prepared a draft Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, which was made public under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008. Although a consensus was not reached in July 2015 during a new negotiation session in New York, the approach to space activities that this initiative sought to promote, both cross-cutting and pragmatic, remains no less relevant for ensuring the safety and security of space missions.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs plays an active role in French discussions on these issues relating to confidence-building and transparency measures in space, which are likely to affect space activities, whether civil, dual-use or related to defence and security.

International satellite organizations

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the DGE of the Ministry for the Economy and Finance, defines French positions within the context of the meetings of international satellite organizations EUTELSAT IGO, ITSO and IMSO.

• EUTELSAT IGO (originally established as the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, EUTELSAT) monitors the operations of the company Eutelsat SA to ensure its observance of the “Basic Principles” set out in the Amended Convention, which entered into force on 28 November 2002. Eutelsat SA, whose headquarters are based in France, operates a fleet of 39 geostationary satellites covering 150 countries, making it one of the top three satellite operators worldwide. The Basic Principles that Eutelsat SA is required to observe include public service obligations, concerning the provision of services connected to the publicly switched telephone network, audiovisual services and future services; pan-European coverage by the satellite system; non-discrimination; and fair competition. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has a seat within the Assembly of Parties of EUTELSAT IGO and on its Advisory Committee, which examines all issues that could impact the functioning of the company Eutelsat SA and thus its ability to observe the Basic Principles. These bodies notably examined the impact of the French Space Operations Act of 3 June 2008 on the functioning of Eutelsat SA.

The Ministry plays a central role in the examination of these matters, which are technical in nature but of increasing political importance.

• The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) is responsible for monitoring the observance by the company Intelsat of its public service obligations with respect to international telecommunications. Based in Luxembourg with its main offices in Washington, DC, Intelsat is a leading global satellite operator, with a fleet of over 50 satellites. After its privatization in 2001, France, with the support of numerous ITSO member States, placed a focus on the respect by the Notifying Administrations (the United States and United Kingdom) for the Core Principles with regard to the management of orbital positions, resources and frequency assignments, which make up the “Common Heritage” shared by the Parties (149 States). The amendment to Article XII of the ITSO Agreement, adopted during the 31^st Assembly of Parties (20-23 March 2007), specifies the terms for ensuring Intelsat’s fulfilment of its public service obligations, particularly to maintain global connectivity for the countries that depend on it.
• The International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) oversees the observance by Inmarsat Ltd (four satellites), following its restructuring, of its service obligations, namely the provision of mobile satellite communication services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). IMSO also serves as the coordinator of the LRIT system for the long-range identification and tracking of ships, established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Satellites: work within the Cospas-Sarsat organization

France is one of four States Parties, with the United States, Canada and the former USSR (later replaced by Russia), to have signed the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement, on 1 July 1988. Cospas-Sarsat provides an international satellite-based system for search and rescue. The system currently includes five low Earth orbit satellites and six geostationary satellites. In terms of its obligations, France continuously provides two instruments for the programme’s space segment. With 1,200,000 distress beacons (406 Mhz), including more than 23,000 units registered in France, the system has helped rescue nearly 40,000 people since its creation.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs participates in the national steering committee overseeing French coordination for the Cospas-Sarsat programme. The Ministry contributes to issues related to cooperation between international organizations (EUMETSAT, ICAO, IMO, ITU) and the transition towards the use of search and rescue (SAR) instruments onboard Galileo satellites, representing Europe’s contribution to the Cospas-Sarsat system.