XVIII. EISC Conference – ROMANIA 2016 

Dear Madam, Dear Sir,

Since January 1st, 2016, the Romanian Parliament holds the annual rotatory Presidency of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC). The European Interparliamentary Space Conference represents an opportunity for parliamentarians to share knowledge, increase access to, and promote the importance of space.

For this reason, I have the pleasure to inform you that this year the Romanian presidency has decided to organise a preparatory Workshop, on April 18th - 19th 2016, in view of the XVIIIth Plenary Session that is to be held on October 3th - 4th with the occasion of the World Space Week.

The selected theme for this year’s Presidency is "Space Security". This encompasses two elements: a. security in space and b. security from space. The theme is selected due to the increasing importance of space security. In relation to "security in space", there is and increasing demand of space missions and applications with implications stemming from space debris which are not yet fully assessed. The planned construction and soon operation of Mega constellations would mean a “step increase” in the use of the Low Earth Orbit region. In relation to "security from space", space technologies and applications can be used as a tool to assist decision and policy makers in developing, implementing and monitoring a number of policy areas (e.g. border control, security and defence, disaster management, migration, food production, maritime, energy). The current regulatory framework is lacking behind the space technological development, market and societal demands.

The workshop aims to provide an overview of current initiatives, an update on the implementation and adherence to existing regulatory framework and instruments and a view of the way ahead to the security, safety, and sustainability of space activities. In particular the Workshop will address and we shall present and discuss the importance and the present issues of space security, as a result of the current challenges and its impact on the present and future space activities.

Our work on "Space Security" will continue at the Plenary Session where we shall debate the possible scenarios for the European future involvement, in securing space exploration and preserving the Earth environments, particularly on security for a better development of an efficient European space policy and on promoting regulatory framework in line with market reality and emerging issues. We do believe that your support and participation since the beginning is crucial to prepare the XVIII EISC resolution on space policy to be adopted during the EISC Plenary Session, and of an outstanding importance in putting it into practice.

It is therefore our pleasure to invite you to the XVIII EISC Plenary Session, which will be held in Bucharest, Romania on October 3rd - 4th, 2016. The agenda and other information will be available soon on the EISC website: www.eisc-europa.eu, where participants can register in a specific section.

I am looking forward for your distinguished participation.

Sincerely yours,

Valerian VREME

Chairman of the Subcommittee for Space and Chairman of the XVIII EISC

Plenary Session - October 3-4, Bucharest, Romania

• Final Programme
• Resolution
• Participants List
• Photos
• Downloads

Workshop - April 18-19, Sinaia, Romania

• Final Programme
• Participants List
• Photos

Session I - Space and Global Societal Challenges 

• Charter for the use of space technologies for migration and sustainable development goals, Mrs. Isabelle Duvaux-Bechon, European Space Agency (Presented by Mrs. Christina Giannopapa - ESA)
• From Space to quality of life, Mr. Alexandru Badea, Romanian Space Agency
• Crisis Management and space technologies and applications, Mr. Alexis Letulier, European Union Satellite Center - EUSC

Session II - Space Regulation and Policy: Are they holistic and comprehensive enough for stakeholders and citizens? 

• ESA Space Capabilities for Space Security, Mrs. Christina Giannopapa, European Space Agency – ESA
• Space Regulation and Policy, Mr. Klaus-Peter Willsch, MP, Chairman of Aviation and Space Group in the Bundestag, Germany
• Europe and Space Security: A Changing Space Security Environment, Mr. Massimo Pellegrino, European Union Institute for Security Studies – EUISS
• Cybersecurity for a Sustainable, Secure and Safe Space Environment, Mr. Luca del Monte, Office for Relations with Industry, Industry Procurement and Legal Directorate, European Space Agency – ESA

Session III - Space Systems as Critical Infrastructure 

• Space technologies for meteorological extreme events forecasts and monitoring in Romania, Mr. Ion Sandu, General Director, and Mr. Gheorghe Stăncalie, Executive Director, National Meteorological Administration of Romania – ANM
• Romania's cooperation with EUMETSAT, Mr. Ion Sandu, General Director, and Mr. Gheorghe Stăncălie, Executive Director, National Meteorological Administration of Romania – ANM
• Space applications for security: existing and future projects for the Cheia Earth Station, Mr. Roberto Scagnoli, Director RARTEL SA
• The use of GNSS systems in air traffic management, Mr. Viorel Săliştean, Head of Unit, Technical Directorate, RA ROMATSA

 Session IV - Security Research, Cyber security, Critical Infrastructure security 

• ESA GovSatCom, Mr. Harald Hauschildt, Head of GovSatCom and Secure Communication Section - ESA
• Eurisy, Mr. Stefaan De Mey – EURISY (Presented by Mr. Piero Messina, Strategy Department, European Space Agency)
• Critical Space Systems and Infrastructure Protection, Mr. Marius Opran, Senior researcher, ROSA
• Mr. Roberto Trigo Martinez, IPC Delegate at the European Space Agency, CDTI Space Programmes Department, Spain

Session V - Initiatives on space and security developed at national level 

• Initiatives on Space and Security developed at national level in France, Mr. Henry De Roquefeuil, General, Military Counsellor to the CNES President, Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES)
• National Initiatives on Space and Security, Ms. Åse Wahl Gunderson, Norwegian Space Centre (NSC)
• Polish actions with respect to perspectives on the security, safety, and sustainability of space activities, Mr. Paweł Pudlowski, MP and Mr. Wlodzimierz Lewandowski, Polish Space Agency (POLSA)
• German Initiatives on Space and Security, Ms. Nina-Louisa Remuss, Head of Berlin Office for Political and Economic Relations, DLR, Germany