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Supporting the Hague Code of Conduct

an FRS project funded by the European Union

Visit of Europe’s spaceport in Kourou

18 & 21 May 2011

On 18-21 May 2011, as part of the European Union’s decision to support HCoC, the FRS organised a visit to Europe’s spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana), in close cooperation with the European Space Agency, the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), Arianespace, the Soyouz programme, the French Chairmanship of the HCoC and the French authorities in French Guiana.

This activity was a concrete way to implement transparency measures as provided for in the Code:

Subscribing States « consider, on a voluntary basis (including on the degree of access permitted), inviting international observers to their land (test-) launch sites » (article 4 ii)

Representatives from Mexico, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the United Arab Emirates and the United States took part in this 3-day visit. The agenda consisted in a series of presentations on the HCoC and on sites visits, including the Telemetry station and the Jupiter control room. On that occasion, participants attended the launch of Ariane V flight 202.
May
2025
Research Papers

The Growing Appeal of Missiles: Current Drivers Behind Ballistic Missile Acquisition and Development

This paper recalls the state of ballistic missile proliferation at the time of the adoption of the Code, before delving into the genesis of the Code and especially the various reports and meetings that promoted the adoption of a supply-side multilateral instrument. It describes the conferences and diplomatic efforts that led to the Code in 2002. It also explains why the Code ended up the way it is today with modest ambitions but concrete outcomes.

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March
2022
Research Papers

The Hague Code of Conduct and Space

This paper considers the dual approach of the Code by analysing the similarities between launchers and ballistic missiles in light of new technical developments, and assessing the risk of missile technology proliferation. It also assesses the new trends and developments in the space sector that may have an impact on the ability of the HCoC to remain relevant in its efforts to curb the proliferation of ballistic launchers.

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