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The European Space Agency (ESA) has twenty-two Member States with a variety of governance structures and strategic priorities regarding their space activities. The objective of this paper is to provide an up-to date overview and a holistic assessment of the national space governance structures and strategic priorities of the eleven smaller Member States (based on annual ESA contributions). A link is made between the governance structure and the main strategic objectives. The specific needs and interests of small and new Member States in the frame of European Space Integration are addressed. The first part of the paper focuses on the national space governance structures in the eleven smaller ESA Member States. The governance models of these Member States are identified including the responsible ministries and the entities entrusted with the implementation of space strategy/policy and programmes of the country. The second part of this paper focuses on the content and analysis of the national space strategies and indicates the main priorities and trends in the eleven smaller ESA Member States. The priorities are categorised with regards to technology domains, the role of space in the areas of sustainability and the motivators for space investments. In a third and final part, attention is given to the specific needs and interests of the smaller Member States in the frame of European space integration. ESA instruments are tailored to facilitate the needs and interests of the eleven smaller and/or new Member States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Having passed its 50th anniversary, the Space Age has attained some degree of maturity. In parallel, space activities have, over the years been for major world powers increasingly tied to national power. Space power has thus become an indispensable element for a country with regional and global ambitions. However, while Europe possesses the fundamental elements of space power it has been absent from the on-going debate and process leading to the development of space power theory. This needs to change as Europe should be able to influence the development of a cogent and comprehensive space power theory and maintain its position in the global “space hierarchy”. This paper aims thus to present an overview of the concept of space power and its implications with a particular attention devoted to Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The governments’ priority and budgets for space activities are steadily decreasing and the importance of space activities is not any longer reaching the front pages of the newspaper, as in the 1960s. On the other hand in Europe the people, at large, have shown an important interest and support for space activities. A contribution to bridge the gap between decreasing funding and important support of citizen can come from teaching space policy in universities as well as in special workshops for government, industrial and military circles. The paper will outline a course that fulfils this goal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]