Feature

One of ECSL’s most successful activities is the ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy. This is organised by ESA with the support of a host university (1992 Messina (Italy), 1993 Toulouse (France), 1994 Granada (spain), 1995 Aberdeen (United Kingdom), 1996 Leiden (The Netherlands), 1997 Rovaniemi (Finland), 1998 Brest (France), 1999 Geneva (Switzerland), 2000 Cologne (Germany), 2001 Nice (France), 2002 La Rochelle (France), 2003 Leuven (Belgium), 2004 Graz (Austria), 2005 Terni (Perugia, Italy),2006 Noordwijk (The Netherlands),2007 Noordwijk (The Netherlands), 2008 Genoa (Italy), 2009 Lisbon (Portugal), 2010 Jaén (Spain) and 2011 Rijeka (Croatia). The Summer Course attracts participants from an increasing number of universities.

During the two-week course students attend intensive lectures given by university professors and space professionals concerning the international legal framework of space activities. These include UN Resolutions, space treaties and other legal issues relevant to space applications such as the commercialisation of space activities, telecommunications, remote-sensing,intellectual property rights, licensing, insurance contracts (public/private) etc.

During the course students have the opportunity to meet highly qualified experts, to learn from their experience and to visit space industries.

The main objective of the Summer Course is to stimulate students’ interest in this particular field of international law and to provide them with a basic, solid knowledge upon which to build their professional career or carry out further academic research.

The 20th ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy took place at the University of Rijeka, Croatia from August 29 to September 09, 2011.