The Space Resources initiative, launched by the Luxembourg government in 2016 in order to facilitate the peaceful exploration and use of space resources by commercial companies, has turned the country into an international hotspot for the “new space” economy and an attractive partner for other nations interested in this expanding sector. Poland, represented by its Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology, Jadwiga Emilewicz, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Luxembourg in October to start bilateral cooperation on space activities with a particular focus on space resources. Luxembourg has already signed similar agreements with Portugal, Japan, China, the Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates.
The five-year MoU covers the exchange of information and expertise in the areas of space technologies, policy, law and regulation. The countries will also promote a constructive dialogue with all United Nations member states in order to clarify and improve the transparency of current international legislation applicable to the exploration and use of space resources.
Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Étienne Schneider, highlighted the numerous business relationships between the two countries and the fact that satellite operator SES has its regional headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe in Warsaw. “Building on these economic ties,” he said, “this agreement will further endorse cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels in order to progress together with other nations on a future governance scheme and a global regulatory framework for space resources”.