Space Law for the Global Space Economy

Overview

The 2021 Symposium was held in virtual format on Tuesday, 8 June, 15:00 – 17:00 Vienna Time (CEST) from Board Room D, Vienna International Centre.

A panel of prestigious speakers discussed the following subject: “Space Law for the Global Space Economy” on the occasion of the 60th session of the Legal Subcommittee of the UN COPUOS.

Please find an abstract and the Symposium programme below.

This IISL/ECSL Annual Symposium on Space Law is co-organised every year by IISL and ECSL and takes place during the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria. Both IISL and ECSL are permanent observers to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee.

This Symposium brings together academic experts and leading practitioners in the field of space law, policy and regulation to discuss pressing issues and to propose solutions to the international community.

Abstract of the Symposium Programme

The dramatic development of the space economy, experienced worldwide, has presented relevant challenges to the current international legal framework. Commercial and private space activities are on a rapid rise, including a diverse range of manufacturing, space-enabled products and services, as space transportation, satellite navigation, telecommunication and imagery. In parallel, the growth of international trade involving space-related goods, services and data has introduced a new dynamic to the economic landscape.

The global space sector, with its impact on economic and social activities in general, have led to an evaluation of space law instruments, in order to acknowledge those trends best identified with the international community’s shared interests and values. It is therefore essential that the expansion of the global space economy can build on a rule-based framework. This framework is best developed in a multilateral effort. UN COPUOS will have to play an essential role in this.

This IISL/ECSL Symposium focused on major elements related to the global space economy, collaboratively addressed not in abstract legal terms, but through practical perspectives, considering how regulation impacts economic prospects and may increase the benefit for all actors. By the study of interrelated topics, the Symposium invited discussion on how to shape legal instruments upholding the rule of law and providing the Legal Subcommittee with suggestions for its work.

Symposium programme