Joint statement on the successful completion of the Mid-Term Review of the Canada–ESA Cooperation Agreement
On , during his official visit to Canada, Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell, sign a joint statement to reaffirm the unique and fruitful partnership between Canada and the European Space Agency, marking the mid-point of the Cooperation Agreement, renewed in . (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell signed a joint statement with the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Dr. Josef Aschbacher, reaffirming Canada and ESA's unique, proven and productive partnership. This signature marks a key milestone in the mid-term review of the Canada–ESA Cooperation Agreement, underscoring the continued strength and strategic importance of the collaboration.
Joint statement
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada have a longstanding, fruitful and unique cooperative relationship in space exploration, technology development, and scientific research. This tight collaboration benefits both ESA and Canada by leveraging each other's strengths, advancing scientific discovery, delivering highly beneficial space services for our respective citizens, and promoting innovation in the global space sector.
The Canada–ESA cooperation formally started in when the two Parties signed their first Cooperation Agreement. The current Canada–ESA Cooperation Agreement is the sixth Agreement between the two Parties. Beyond this Cooperation Agreement, ESA and Canada are close partners in the context of the International Space Station, the James Webb Space Telescope, lunar exploration, Earth observation and active contributors to the work of numerous multilateral forums, including the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
The current Canada–ESA Cooperation Agreement (Article XIII, paragraph 2) provides for a formal review of the Canada–ESA cooperation during the fifth year following the entry into force of this Agreement. Accordingly, both Parties held a Mid-Term Review meeting on . On this occasion, both Parties recognized and highlighted:
- the unique, longstanding and fruitful cooperation between ESA and Canada that yielded productive and tangible results for both Parties
- the critical role this Cooperation Agreement has played in the exchange of scientific and technological expertise for the peaceful use of space between Europe and Canada
- the synergies generated via the Cooperation Agreement involving European and Canadian experts in the field of space, serving to inspire through innovation
- the opportunities created for Canadian and European industry to collaborate and advance the field of space together
- the remarkable achievements and benefits accrued under this model of international collaboration
Both Parties acknowledged that the Canada–ESA partnership shall continue to evolve, with potential new opportunities in areas such as next generation of space services and technology programmes, lunar and Mars exploration, and sustainable space technologies.
Both Parties confirmed, as a natural extension of this highly beneficial bilateral collaboration, a desire to seize every possible future opportunity to closely coordinate views and positions regarding future global space developments and their consequences for both ESA's and Canada's space programmes.