Press Release: First ever ‘Space Council’ paves the way for a European space programme

The first ever European 'Space Council' was held on 26 November 2004. This was considered a major political milestone for Europe in Space, offering ministers representing the 27 European Union (EU) and/or European Space Agency (ESA) Member States the first opportunity to jointly discuss the development of a coherent overall European space programme. In the footprint of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed by the Heads of State or Government of the European Union on 29 October and defining for the first time 'space' as a shared competence of the Union, the Space Council acknowledged the importance of space activities for a wide range of European policies.