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A group of senior officials from the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) paid a first-time visit to the CSIR's Hartebeesthoek site on 26 January 2009.
The visit was organised by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) as part of a mission to explore developments relating to the South African space policy as well as relevant strategies, priorities and institutions. The visit also focused on existing activities with the Military Staff of the European Union (EUMS).
A presentation by Raoul Hodges, manager at the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre, and a tour of the facilities ensured that the visitors gained an appreciation of the activities conducted at the CSIR's Hartebeesthoek site.
Delegates from the EC included three representatives from the Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry, Paul Weissenberg (director: Aerospace, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES), security and defence), Mauro Facchini (deputy head of unit - GMES bureau) and Karsten Mecklenburg (policy officer - international relations in space) as well as Petra Alfs (policy officer - Galileo applications - intelligent transport systems). Chris de Cooker (head: international relations department), Geraldine Naja (head: institutional matters and strategic studies) and Micheline Tabache (administrator: international relations) formed the small ESA delegation.
Commenting on the visit, Hodges remarked, "A visit to our facilities at Hartebeesthoek by our overseas peers is always an honour and privilege for us. The opportunity to participate in projects of mutual benefit and to show the outcomes of such projects will ultimately strengthen our relations."
Enquiries: CSIR Communications
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