The expansion of the European Union in space, as well as the overall promotion of scientific research for space, have always been necessary goals. The rational exploitation of space is connected to a huge range of sectors on our planet, such as television, telecommunications, financial systems, climate change, health, unemployment, defense, security, energy management, meteorology, monitoring of the atmosphere and marine environment, environmental protection, natural resource management, industrial competitiveness, aviation, shipping, railways, agriculture, biotechnology, recycling, forestry, disaster management, danger signals, rescue operations, civil protection, crisis or emergency situations, traffic, transportation, urban planning, and tourism.

The aim of this book is, on the one hand, to critically analyze how the European Union has managed to put space at the service of its citizens and, on the other hand, to provide the reader with the opportunity to draw conclusions about its degree of success, existing difficulties, and future prospects.