Dutch think tank warns of EU space-related arms race

London, Nov.21 : A think tank in The Netherlands has warned that the European Union is developing a military space policy that has the "potential for triggering an arms race in region".

According to the Transnational Institute: "EU-financed communication and spy satellites are slowly becoming reality and in the long term the inclusion of space-based missile defence and other more offensive uses of space are real options for an increasingly ambitious EU military space policy."

Ministers from all ESA member states are meeting in The Hague next week to implement a new European space policy that identifies military "security" as a priority, reports The Telegraph.

In 2002, the EU approved a two billion pound satellite network to break strategic dependence on America and seize the lead in space technology.

Galileo was designed to end dependence on America's Global Positioning System, a network of 24 satellites controlled by Pentagon that can be cut off in war or even used as a tool of pressure.

At the time, it was said that Galileo would create 150,000 jobs, generating seven billion pounds in annual revenue for European companies from 2008.

British demanded a statement in 2002 to describe Galileo as a "civilian" project that would not threaten the cohesion of NATO.

ANI