Slovakia to deal with space strategy during EU presidency: ESA director general

Slovakia will hold discussions on a European Space Strategy during its Presidency of the Council of the EU, announced visiting European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Johan-Dietrich Worner on Thursday here.

"Slovakia will preside over the Council of the EU from July 1 until the end of the year. During this period, a European Space Strategy will be in the process of forming and Slovakia's task will be to initiate a discussion and influence this process," said Worner.

Slovakia currently has the status of a Cooperating State within ESA and Worner hopes for Slovakia to acquire full-fledged membership soon.

"Slovakia has its history in science and industry, and certainly has something to offer ESA. It doesn't matter if it's a big or small thing, as long as it's important," added the ESA director general.

Slovakia inked a Cooperation agreement with ESA in 2010 and became an associate member. In the second phase, President Andrej Kiska signed a 2016 ratification Treaty on European cooperating State between Slovakia and ESA which made Slovakia a cooperating partner of ESA. The third phase involves full-fledged membership. Endit