UK dominates EU space policy, claims UKSA

The UK continues to have influence over the European Space Agency in spite of Brexit, the UK Space Agency director for policy Alice Bunn has said.

Bunn was speaking to Research Fortnight following the conclusion of the ESA ministerial meeting that took place on 1 and 2 December in Lucerne, Switzerland. She said that the UK had achieved a “very strong” leadership position at various ESA programmes after committing €1.4 billion (£1.2bn) to the agency’s budget. The UK is to lead a future Earth observation programme and various telecommunication initiatives.

“We have never before dominated these areas as we are now. Brexit has had very little impact on the negotiations, as ESA is not a European Union agency and most of these programmes stand on their own feet,” she said.