European Commission approves space policy

BRUSSELS, April 26 (UPI) -- The College of European Commissioners has adopted a "European Space Policy," designed to widen Europe's space activities.

The document, which calls the European Space Agency a strategic asset that must be used more effectively, said the continent must secure the economic and societal benefits of space for its citizens.

The policy was approved Thursday during a commission meeting in Brussels and provides a comprehensive political framework for the development and exploitation of space technologies and systems.

The space policy will be offered for endorsement by European ministers May 22 in Brussels during Europe's Fourth Space Council Meeting.