The European Commission proposed a new industrial policy for the European space sector, and to set up a European satellite collision avoidance system. With these measures, it intends to face the increasing competition from emerging industrial actors in countries such as China and India - competition posing a challenge to the further development of the EU's industry.

Some measures to keep Europe's space industry competitive and to set up a European satellite collision avoidance system, were proposed by the European Commission on the 28 of February. With regard to improve competitiveness of EU space policy, the Commission proposes to improve first the regulatory framework for the space industry to ensure the creation of a real single market for space products and services; the monitoring and improvement of the frameworks for dual-use export control and intra-EU transfers; the availability of spectrum for satellite communications in the future; and the preparation of our legal framework for emerging space activities, e.g. commercial spaceflights. The results of a Flash Eurobarometer survey published in September 2012 on space activities indicates that Europeans are increasingly aware of the EU's activities in space.

In addition, the Commission suggests that investments in space R&I should focus on ensuring industry's access to critical technologies and the development of new breakthrough technologies, and highlights that action is needed to attract technicians, engineers and scientists to the European space industry and universities and research centres. The Commission will also explore the possibilities offered by EU funding instruments proposed for the next Multiannual Financial Framework to increase financing for space infrastructures or space-based applications and services, in particular for SMEs. Finally, it will support the development of a European launcher policy to ensure an independent, reliable, secure, available and cost efficient launcher system.

On the other hand, the Commission proposes a programme to support EU Member States that own radars and telescopes capable of monitoring satellites and space debris or relevant data centres, to bring together their capacities and offer for the first time a European space surveillance and tracking (SST) service. In order to mitigate the risks of collision and uncontrolled re-entries it is necessary to monitor satellites and space debris so that satellite operators and public authorities can be alerted in good time.