On the occasion of the 5th edition of the Conference on EU Space Policy, Maria da Graça Carvalho was invited to deliver a keynote speaker during the session entitled "Research, Development and Innovation: What Contribution from the Space Sector for Growth and Cross-sectoral Fertilisation?", which took place today in the Charlemagne Building in Brussels.
In the quality of member of the ITRE Committee, Rapporteur on the "Horizon 2020" package and EPP permanent rapporteur on the Budget committee for Space, Maria da Graça Carvalho highlighted during her intervention the importance of research and innovation for the competitiveness of European industry - including, the space sector with the consequent development of highly useful and promising space applications for public services, civil society and enterprises, the creation of jobs and, more generally, the growth of the European economy.
This fifth annual Conference on EU Space Policy, which was organised in collaboration with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Antonio Tajani, and the Director-General of the European Space Agency, Mr Jean-Jacques Dordain, was established under the patronage of the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Council, Mr Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Parliament, Mr Martin Schulz, with the support and the participation of Vice-President Tajani.
On the occasion of the 5th edition of this conference, Maria da Graça Carvalho also participated in the dinner that Mr Joseph Daul MEP, President of the Group of the European People's Party, and Mr Hannes Swoboda MEP, President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats, Mrs Amalia Sartori MEP, President of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament, and Mr Vittorio Prodi, President of the "Sky and Space" Intergroup in the European Parliament, held today in the 'Salons des Députés' of the European Parliament in Brussels. At this occasion, Mr Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission delivered a welcome speech.