http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_and_the_EU
NB I don't know if funding decisions are made on a project by project basis.
Edit: Also for the European Commissioners are appointed by the elected governments of member states.
ESA funding is NEVER on the table as a topic of discussion in any kind of public elections of such officials in the EU.
"as a waste of money merely 'to put a Frenchman into space.'"
Who campaign and are elected on issues totally unrelated to things like this. Basically the public probably doesn't even know it's paying for this until it's reported in the news. At least stuff like this gets debated in the US.
For example if I walked around in my office among 20 people (with higher education and into tech) and ask them what ESA is I doubt 5 would know what it stands for and even less that they are paying for it. Everyone knows what NASA is.
Should politicians refuse to do anything that was not in their campaign leaflets?
> For example if I walked around in my office among 20 ...
Try it out.
In my opinion, this is a very unlikely hypothetical. I'm from a country that is not a member of the ESA - never met a person yet that doesn't know what it is, or stands for.
Rosetta in particular caused a lot of excitement, it was on the news a lot, people were following ESA and the lander's accounts on Twitter etc.
No - my point is there is no pressure to improve PR because it's not a voting issue for the people deciding it's funding in EU.
>In my opinion, this is a very unlikely hypothetical.
Just asked 4 next to my desk - only one knew what "ESA" stands for, expected since he's in to that kind of thing - don't feel like disturbing more people :)
It would be great, yes.
They could also ask the public anew when such a thing emerges...
>In my opinion, this is a very unlikely hypothetical. I'm from a country that is not a member of the ESA - never met a person yet that doesn't know what it is, or stands for.
For real? Where did you ask, inside the ESA headquarters?
The average EU citizen has absolutely no idea what ESA is or does.
Source? a good percentage of the people I know from Europe does.
>Should politicians refuse to do anything that was not in their campaign leaflets? It would be great, yes.
They should refuse to do anything that was against (or far from what was in) their program. Leaflets hardly reflect all of a candidate's program.
Well, I don't just know people from Europe, I am from Europe.
Computer programmers and geeky types are not representative of the general population.
>They should refuse to do anything that was against (or far from what was in) their program. Leaflets hardly reflect all of a candidate's program.
Maybe they should though? Why allow for non approved/requested by the public policy changes that they come up on their own?
Even better, ask in a direct democratic way for anything not in the program (yeah, within reason -- they could do trivial things and directing).
Maybe if the two of you had actually looked for a source rather than argued you'd have found that yourself..
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space_en (Scroll down to documents - the two eurobarometers)
Me too. My "Source?" question is still standing.
Computer programmers and geeky types are not representative of the general population.
That's not the people I referred to when talking of who knows about ESA.
>They should refuse to do anything that was against (or far from what was in) their program. Leaflets hardly reflect all of a candidate's program. Maybe they should though? Why allow for non approved/requested by the public policy changes that they come up on their own?
Leaflets are small pieces of information that are supposed to be simple and direct. Do you expect details on NASA funding in an A5 piece of papers that barely contains a face and a slogan (and perhaps a few phone numbers and a Twitter handle)?
Even better, ask in a direct democratic way for anything not in the program (yeah, within reason -- they could do trivial things and directing).
Ask any political scientist why this is not a good idea.
What source exactly do you ask for? Some official poll giving the relative recognizability of European organizations and agencies?
Your source was having talked to some people from Europe. My experience is the direct opposite, by the facts that:
Having talked with lots of people about ESA (as an enthusiast/geek person) and having been met with blank stares.
The fact that it features less on European news than NASA.
The fact that it doesn't have any celebrated triumphs, NASA-style.
The fact that it never or almost never comes up in political discussions about the EU.
Try asking some people from all walks of life, average person of the street style...
Yes. That would give a more accurate figure than my or your limited people network.
Your source was having talked to some people from Europe. My experience is the direct opposite, by the facts that:...
Your people network and my network, again, are not representative and should not be taken as fact but is just anecdotal. The other three facts only show that ESA is less known than NASA to the average European. Your claim was stronger, and I quote you: "The average EU citizen has absolutely no idea what ESA is or does."
[edited for completeness]
And I stand by that. Unfortunately I don't have something like the Mechanical Turk for Europe to do a poll.