ABSTRACT
Ceding powers to the EU in the field of space is a contested choice. Space endeavours are not only expensive, but they also have a military potential. Nevertheless, the Lisbon Treaty introduced a European space policy that falls under the ordinary legislative procedure, thus enabling the European Parliament to make decisions, together with the EU Council of Ministers. This chapter investigates how the Europeanisation of space has been portrayed as a legitimate development. It analyses all the non-technical European Parliament Resolutions on space from 1979 until 2013, aiming to identify and explore the frames the European Parliament relied on to justify Europe’s engagement in space. The coding of 23 texts and over 200 arguments revealed, first and foremost, that the European Parliament has always been supportive of Europe investing in space. Space is portrayed as a highly promising policy field where Europe should act either to reap benefits or to respond to general or specific challenges. Among the most cited reasons are European independence, the numerous applications of space and international competition. The analysis also shows that the European Parliament has been acting strategically by adapting its space frames over time to ensure that its argumentation remains in line with the EU’s varying strategic priorities.
