Luis de Guindos, Spanish Minister of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, announced that the Spanish Government will establish a contribution plan for ESA for the period of 2017-2024 with a contribution of the amount of 1.512,3 million euros. This contribution, which means an increase of 600,3 million euros compared to the one approved in 2014, will finance Spain’s participation in ESA mandatory activities, as well as in the optional programs that are of special interest to the Spanish space industry.Of these additional 600,3 million euros, 459 million euros are planned to finance the launcher, exploration, manned flight and microgravity programs, as well as navigation, telecommunications, Earth observation, technology and security; the rest will be going to the mandatory contributions (141,3 million euros), that essentially involves ESA’s science investment, as well as the Agency’s other basic and operational activities.At the Ministerial Council held in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 1 and 2 December, Spain has assumed the presidency of the Agency until the next Council, which will take place in Spain in 2019. The Spanish delegation has been led by the Minister of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Luis de Guindos, and the Secretary General for Industry and SMEs, Begoña Cristeto.A Ministerial Council is an event of great importance for the member state in question, because apart from the obtained visibility, the country’s influence is also increased by chairing all the preparatory meetings. Furthermore, it is a good opportunity for achieving greater international visibility when it comes to Spain’s technological and industrial capabilities.Additionally, ESA’s Ministerial Council of 2019 will be important because it coincides with the preparation of the EU’s next financial perspective 2021-2027, which is expected to include a significant chapter concerning space activities that meets or exceeds the current one (approximately 12,000 M€).Thanks to public investments and participation in ESA’s space projects, Spain has developed an important industrial network over the last 15 years. ESA’s contributions are subject to the so-called geo-return which entails that all the funds provided by Spain are returned to the Spanish industry through contracts. Since 2000, Spain has obtained contracts from the Agency worth more than 2.236 M€, and the Spanish space sector has had a significant turnover increase: from 230 to 750 M€ between 2000 and 2015.When it comes to space infrastructures, Spain has one of ESA’s five major activity centres, the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villanueva de Cañada (Madrid), which is ESA’s scientific headquarters for astronomy and planetary exploration missions.
