AwaitingLaunch_1397728623369

EU Efforts for an ICoC: A Mexican
Perspective
Fermin Romero Vazquez
Currently, the world relies on satellites for command and control,
communications, Earth monitoring, early warning, surveillance,
reconnaissance, and meteorological capabilities, navigation with the Global
Positioning System and military space applications such as navigation and
160
intelligence systems. Thus, multilateral space issues are discussed in two
specialised agencies of the United Nations, including the COPUOS, the CD,
and the UNGA.
COPUOS has codified International Space Law, and more precisely the
treaties governing space activities and the principles adopted by the UN
General Assembly and other resolutions detailing the implementation of
such legislation. Space laws and policies have existed for decades and are still
growing. COPUOS, through its two subcommittees (Scientific and Technical
and the Legal Subcommittees), focuses on technical matters and the
promotion of international cooperation on space activities, examines issues
such as space junk, the use of space systems for disaster management,
nuclear energy sources in space, registration of objects launched into outer
space, among other activities. But COPUOS does not have a mandate related
to space security issues (due to limited institutional capability). In the field of
space security, it is the CD that addresses military space challenges through
its agenda item on the "prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS)".
Both COPUOS and CD play an essential role in space affairs by providing a
venue to address common challenges related to space activities. Additionally,
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) addresses matters related
to the allocation of space resources such as orbital slots and radio
frequencies.
EU Efforts for anICoC: A Mexican Perspective | www.orfonline.org 137