Europe's quest for independence in space travel

Europe wants to become more independent in space travel. The knowledge is there, but the common strategy is missing - France and Germany insist on different approaches.

Paris. Emmanuel Macron is staging the big departure in Paris. The French President invited more than 2,000 representatives from politics, the military, business and research to the summit organized with Germany in the Grand Palais in Paris.

Under the 45-meter-high dome, Macron campaigned for more European unity. Europe's space travel is “fragile,” he said, and the continent needs to become faster.

In order to assert itself against the USA and China, Europe must pool its industrial and technological capacities. Manned space travel should also be possible within ten years at the latest. In addition, Europe needs common rules that do justice to security and economic policy interests - for example for the coordination of space traffic.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized: No European country can develop the necessary skills alone, she said in Paris. Without scaling, Europe will fall behind in global competition. More venture capital is also crucial to finance innovations and build European champions.

But the question of how Europe should actually become more independent in space travel is causing conflict.