The report by the Office on "Orientation of French and European space policy" was published the day after the meeting of the European Space Ministers held in Munich in November 1991 (Mr Loridant had been invited to attend this meeting as an observer). This study had a particularly wide field of investigation and required the co-operation of nine principal experts. In total, more than a hundred people were consulted. The Office concluded that Europe already has the potential that would enable it to become a fully active space power, but that understandable hesitations could result in cancellations or compromises. In any event, it appears that more effective mobilisation of its resources with a view to more clearly defined and better-justified objectives, is indispensable. Manned space flights must in no circumstances be funded to the detriment of other space priorities, amongst which earth observation should take a leading place. It would not be appropriate for the public authorities to stand aside from the preparation of future generations of telecommunications satellites by entrusting responsibility for these to private industry alone. This report, which also dealt with military aspects of space, was the Office’s first incursion into the field of technological choices related to defence matters.