Ministry of Defence included
The Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate is and remains the owner of NLSA: the organisation will continue to be housed within the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the implementing agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. A new development is that the Ministry of Defence is now also involved in the commissioning process, via the NLSA Steering Group. This gives the broad societal and security dimensions of space a more prominent role in the governance structure, although space policy relating to international and national security remains the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Defence itself.
What the mandate covers
In addition to the agreement, there is a separate mandate decision, issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), which grants the director of the NLSA the authority to act on behalf of these ministries. This includes representation on the ESA Council and in EU space programmes, advising on European and international policy, implementing OCW grant schemes such as the Instrument Development Programme, and overseeing the strategic communications plan for space.
Together, the covenant and the NLSA mandate provide a clear framework for the NLSA to continue working, alongside government departments, research institutions and the Dutch space sector, to build a strong Dutch presence in space.
