DLR and CNES renew their framework agreement for bilateral cooperation

Pascale Ehrenfreund underlined: "Together, DLR and CNES have developed significant space projects in Europe. We will continue this close cooperation in the future in order to actively meet the global challenges that we face."

Jean-Yves Le Gall pointed out: "France and Germany are at this time a strong team – in Brussels through Copernicus, Galileo and Horizon 2020; at ESA through launch vehicles, the International Space Station and science; and in our bilateral relations through MERLIN: an excellent basis to shape future space projects successfully."

In particular, DLR and CNES commit to continuing the close cooperation and coordination in research and technology collaborations, projects at the national level and within the European Space Agency (ESA) and in EU research programmes, as well as in satellite missions and in the operation and use of the ISS. The agreement provides for regular meetings, as well as the option of personnel exchanges. The cooperation agreement has a term of five years and will be renewed automatically.

"With this agreement, DLR and CNES emphasise the excellent and long-standing cooperation between Germany and France in space," Brigitte Zypries welcomed the agreement renewal. "The two countries will continue to play a leading role in Europe and worldwide in satellite applications, system developments and space exploration," said Thierry Mandon.