Space, Urso: 3.5 billion euro from Italy, +13% compared to three years ago

"We are back to being protagonists together with France and Germany and we mark the relaunch of Europe that can finally look to the future with greater certainty, cohesion and determination. Italy is there, it has increased its contribution by more than 13% compared to three years ago. We have reached EUR 3.5 billion and this has contributed to reaching, to some extent exceeding the expectations of the European Space Agency itself, of our European Union. All our priority programmes are amply funded, access to space with Vega and Ariane, in full cooperation at last with Germany. The conference went at its best, in a spirit of cohesion and sharing greater than in the past, the objectives were achieved within the set timeframe, the climate is increasingly positive of collaboration, and this will mark the three years of the Italian presidency up to the next ministerial, which we will host in our country'. These are the words of Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, on the sidelines of the Bremen ministerial on space.

"The EUR 22 billion contribution to the European Space Agency decided at the end of the ministerial conference was 'a success beyond all expectations, both politically and in terms of programmes'. The success, Urso noted, was determined by the "full awareness, on the part of all the delegations, of the absolute urgency for Europe to speed up on the road to the future and on the road to full competitiveness. All delegations understood this urgency to work together in the same direction'. It is, he added, 'an urgency and a necessity that reality imposes on us'.