Our first issue of 2022 features Marian-Jean Marinescu as our cover star, as the European Space Conference was taking place in Brussels. The veteran MEP and chair of Parliament’s Sky and Space Intergroup believes the EU needs to take urgent action to ensure its strategic autonomy in space and talks to Andreas Rogal about what needs to be done to prevent Europe from falling behind in the new space race.
In our news and current affairs pages, we look at the EU’s influence in the South Caucasus with articles from Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and EPP Group Vice-Chair Željana Zovko from Croatia; Danish MEP Pernille Weiss writes about how to better increase energy efficiency in the EU and Sweden’s Jessica Polfjärd says we need to keep Europe’s emission reduction goals on track.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s Ivan Štefanec looks at the International Safer Day, and Portuguese deputy Margarida Marques, vice-chair of the Budget Committee, argues that this a decisive year for Eurozone stability.
Elsewhere, Spanish Social Democrat Cristina Maestre writes about her INI report on the role of cohesion policy in fostering innovative and smart transformation and regional connectivity in the field of ICT; and EESC President Christa Schweng outlines the priorities of the organisation on the green and digital transitions in an interview with Inbar Preiss.
Talking about cervical cancer we have MEPs Against Cancer Interest Group Chair, Loucas Fourlas, and vice-Chair, Sara Cerdas.
Our first feature focuses on the EU Space Policy and includes comments from EU Commission’s Director-General for Defence Industry and Space, Timo Pesonen; European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher and Greens/EFA Group deputy Niklas Nienass.
Our second topic features an exclusive interview with the rapporteur on the Digital Services Act, Danish socialist Christel Schaldemose, and contributions from shadow rapporteurs Arba Kokalari (EPP), Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA), Alessandra Basso (ID), as well as comments from the associated committees’ rapporteurs, Henna Virkkunen from ITRE and Patrick Breyer from LIBE.
We close as always with our regular 5 Questions with… column, which this time features Spanish Renew Europe Group deputy Izaskun Bilbao Barandica.