Theorising Institutional Change: The Impact of the European Integration Process on the Development of Space Activities in Europe

The book provides a structural analysis of the European space effort from an institute change perspective. It analyzes the EU-ESA inter-institutional relationship, gives an overview of the development of space policy in Europe, and advances the debate about the impact of the European integration process on existing institutional actors. While European Space collaboration was initially developed outside thecompetences of the European Union (EU) with space programmes being carried outalmost exclusively under the framework of European Space Agency (ESA) andnational agencies, the EU has gained "shared competences" (Art. 2, TFEU) in spacepolicy following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Currently the EU and ESA worktogether under a Framework Agreement. In 2016, the EU Commission has publisheda Communication entitled "European Space Policy" (ESP). Even though ESA'sMember States have agreed to keep ESA as an intergovernmental organisationduring the ESA Ministerial Council of 2014, the discussion about ESA becoming partof the EU framework continues. The EU's ambitions for leadership in Europeanspace policy raise question concerning the future of ESA. The study of institutionslies at the heart of political sciences. Strikingly the theoretic framework qualifyinginstitutional change and making it comparable leaves room for more concrete andtestable dimensions of institutional change.