European Space Agency’s ESA successful Ministerial Council meeting in Switzerland

Bern, 02. The Ministers responsible for space affairs from ESA Member States came together on 1-2 December 2016 to make important decisions, namely on the strategy to ensure Europe reinforces its excellence in space science and technology; maximising the integration of space into European society and on fostering a competitive European space sector. The meeting in Lucerne, the first one on Swiss territory, was also the occasion for Switzerland and Luxembourg to pass on the Ministerial Presidency to Spain. The President of the Confederation M. Johann N. Schneider-Ammann welcomed the participants of ESA's Ministerial Council meeting for their 2-day meeting in Lucerne. The Ministers of the 22 Member States and the two associated States Slovenia and Canada came together, as is usual every 3-4 years, to agree on their respective financial commitments for the following years and consequently decide on ESA's future. Decisions were taken for the start or the continuation of about 30 different programmes covering all domains of space activities. Major decisions reached: The continued European participation in the exploitation of the International Space Station ISS until 2024, together with the international partners such as the United States of America, Russia, Japan and Canada; The further development of launcher technologies to prepare the evolution of Ariane 6 and Vega C which have been confirmed recently, and maintenance of corresponding infrastructure, assets and services to guarantee a continued autonomous European access to space; Political support and funding for the second ExoMars mission, to be developed in cooperation with Russia and launched in 2020.