Slovenia pushes for urgent European satellite system establishment

Slovenia, during a recent meeting of EU ministers responsible for telecommunications, emphasized the critical need for establishing a European satellite system. This advocacy, led by the Slovenian Minister for Digital Transformation, Ksenija Klampfer, highlighted the necessity of having secure communication channels, particularly in times of threat. The European satellite system is seen as a solution for ensuring reliable internet connectivity in regions where traditional broadband services are either unfeasible or prohibitively expensive. In addition to the call for a satellite system, Klampfer participated in an event in Luxembourg focused on the MED9 group, which consists of nine Mediterranean countries. Slovenia chairs this group currently, and the event centered around sharing best practices and leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle common regional challenges like climate change, migration, food security, and cybersecurity. Slovenia's proposition garnered unanimous support from all MED9 member states, which include Cyprus, France, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain. Furthermore, there was a positive reception from the European Commission. The joint mapping initiative for AI projects in public sectors aims to enhance collaboration among these countries, fostering innovation and resource-sharing to address critical issues impacting the region. This series of events underscored Slovenia's growing leadership role in advocating for technological advancements in Europe, particularly focusing on enhancing digital sovereignty and employing new technologies for regional stability and development.