Luxembourg, Belgium Join Forces on Exploration and Use of Space Resources

On Wednesday 23 January 2019 at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels, Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Defence of Belgium, and Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy of Luxembourg, signed a joint declaration in which the two countries pledged to collaborate together in the development of an international framework for the exploration and use of space resources.

Due in particular to technological developments and the arrival of new actors, the use and exploitation of space resources is of increasing political and commercial interest.
The exploitation of space resources should initially concern the Moon and the asteroids close to the Earth. These celestial bodies contain many resources that can be exploited, such as water, aluminium, cobalt, iron and manganese. Water is particularly interesting, since it can be used directly by humans, but also as fuel for future space missions.

With its SpaceResources.lu initiative, Luxembourg is one of the pioneers in the exploration and use of space resources. The Grand Duchy has thus put in place national legislation which recognises that space resources can be used. This legal framework establishes a process of authorisation and supervision of corresponding missions. Belgium also has a long tradition of legal, technical and economic expertise in the space field. Within the United Nations, Belgium has adhered to the five space treaties, including the 1979 agreement on the activities of states on the Moon and other celestial bodies.

As part of UNCOPUOS (UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) Belgium, together with Luxembourg and other European states and third countries, is working to develop an international framework for the exploitation of space resources. Sharing the observation that the promotion of private investments in the promising sector of space mining exploration requires the development of such a framework, Luxembourg and Belgium today signed the declaration which formalises the will of the two countries to work together the development of this legal framework.

Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and Defence of Belgium, stated "Belgium is actively contributing to ongoing discussions within the United Nations around the development of a framework for legal framework for the exploration, use and exploitation of space resources. The space economy is growing rapidly, and it is important to start working right now on international rules that will fully and orderly realise the enormous potential of this sector. Because of our strong support for multilateralism, we support an approach that reconciles individual rights with the collective interest of humanity. We are happy to be able to start this business with Luxembourg."

Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy of Luxembourg, said "I welcome the strengthened cooperation between Belgium and Luxembourg which will enable us to identify and discuss our common interests in exploration and use of space resources. After China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Poland, our neighbouring country, Belgium, is the seventh country with which Luxembourg will cooperate in the area of ​​space resources. The Grand Duchy is firmly committed to supporting the competitiveness of the commercial space industry in Europe. Together with our partners, we further develop knowledge and skills, while encouraging investment, particularly from the private sector, to develop and implement technological, operational and financial solutions."