The program bases of scientific and technological cooperation of the EAEU states in the field of remote sensing of the Earth

Shugurov Mark Vladimirovich ORCID: 0000-0003-3604-3961 Doctor of Philosophy Professor of the Department of international law, Saratov State Law Academy 410028, Russia, Saratov, Volskaya str., 1 shugurovs@mail.ru Other publications by this author

The research was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of scientific project No. 20-011-00780 ("Model of legal regulation of scientific, technological and innovative integration within the EAEU and the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution").

Introduction

In modern conditions, the space industry is one of the dynamically developing sectors of the economy that has entered a phase of increasing global competition. However, competition between States with a developed space industry, as well as between them and States that are making progress in its development, is nevertheless complemented by the expansion of multilateral and bilateral cooperation. So, for example, in the first case, Artemis's agreements can be announced, which provide for the formation of a kind of comic alliance led by the United States ^[1]. The second is the expansion of cooperation between the United States and Russia, despite the fan–shaped expansion of the sanctions regime.

According to the document of the US Department of Commerce dated 03.03.2021. ^[2]In addition to a number of companies from China, Germany and Switzerland, restrictions have been imposed on a number of Russian chemical industry enterprises, as well as the 27th Scientific Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The goal is to prevent access to US technologies that can allegedly be used to produce weapons of mass destruction. All this is closely related to the ban on the export of defense technologies to the Russian Federation. But at the same time, in the changes that relate to Russia in section 126.1 of the Arms Export Control Act (ITAR), exceptions will be made on the issue of supplying components necessary for cooperation in the space sector ^[3]. All this once again confirms the correctness of K.E. Zyryanova's generalization that "the cooperation of the leading countries of the world (Russia, the USA, China) in space looks like a sharp contrast against the background of geopolitical conflicts that are particularly acute between Russia, the USA, China and North Korea" ^{[4, p. 782]}.

It is impossible not to point out the development of bilateral Russian-Chinese space cooperation, which is based on the developing contractual framework. It includes the intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the space sphere of 1992 ^[5], as well as the relatively recently concluded Agreement on Measures for the Protection of Technologies in connection with Cooperation in Space ^[6]. We point to the cooperation program for 2018-2022, implemented on the basis of the 2017 agreement concluded between Roscosmos and the Chinese National Space Administration. It includes various subsections and involves the implementation of various thematic projects. In 2018, two agreements were concluded on the exploration of the Moon and deep space ^[7]. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of creating an International Scientific Lunar Station (ISS) opens up important prospects^[8].

Of course, there are certain difficulties here. Thus, the literature notes that "in the space industry, there is an increase in skepticism of Chinese colleagues regarding Russian capabilities after the accident of the Russian Mars mission Phobos-Grunt, a constant shift to the right in time of the lunar projects of the Russian Federation (due to budget constraints), as well as, as it becomes clear, due to problems Roscosmos ^{[9, p. 391]}. But, anyway, in the context of competition between China and the United States in the space field and the non-inclusion of Russia in the Artemis agreements, Russia and China are becoming natural partners in this area of cooperation in the new "space race".

In turn, in order to strengthen global competitiveness in the global market of high-tech products and services in the field of space exploration, exploration and use, not only the global community as a whole, but also regional associations of States, common programs and projects are being formed and implemented. Currently, the research and development (R&D) sector is an integral part of the space sector, which is subject to the pattern of internationalization and globalization. It is enough to cite as an example the EU, which, as is known, has achieved great success in developing the legal, programmatic, and institutional foundations of cooperation between member states in the space industry ^[10]. This cooperation is based on the mechanism of public-private partnership. Another important achievement of the EU, which seeks to strengthen its competitive advantages over the United States, is the adoption of a unified space program for 2021-2027 ^[11], which will contribute to the more effective implementation of previously adopted sectoral space programs.

The most important achievement of such a relatively young interstate association as the EAEU was the adoption among the first of the Interstate Program for the Development of Remote Sensing of the Earth "Integrated System of the EAEU Member States for the production and provision of space and geoinformation services based on national data sources of remote sensing of the Earth" for 2021-2025 ^[12]. This is largely due to the fact that the sector of remote sensing of the Earth (hereinafter – remote sensing) has extremely great economic potential, especially given the development of the digital economy, which involves the collection and processing of a large amount of data. In addition, the EAEU pays increased attention to this sector due to its export potential.

Like various areas of international cooperation in the space field, cooperation in the field of remote sensing is an organic combination of industrial and scientific and technological cooperation. However, in the absence of provisions in the EAEU law that would directly provide for scientific and technological cooperation in the space industry in general and in the field of remote sensing in particular, program regulation plays a leading role at the present stage. In this regard, the purpose of the presented article is to analyze the provisions of this interstate program in terms of determining its importance for the development of scientific and industrial-technological cooperation and integration of the EAEU member States in the field of remote sensing in terms of strengthening global competitiveness in the field of remote sensing products and services.

1. Scientific and technological cooperation within the EAEU in the space industry: strategic, legal and organizational foundations

It is difficult to imagine the development of the modern economy and society as a whole today without the widespread use of space technologies, which are used not only for scientific research purposes, but also for the needs of agriculture, navigation, environmental protection, and also ensure the functioning of the communication system. Today, the space industry is a dynamically developing area of economic relations. Moreover, it can be considered as a sector of the digital economy in general and the big data economy in particular. Therefore, it is not by chance that the latter has come to the attention of modern States, their regional unions, as well as the entire international community as a whole.

An important event of economic, scientific and technological integration in the Eurasian space in the EAEU format was significant steps towards the development of cooperation and integration in the space sector, including in the relevant field of science, technology and innovation.

Of course, the EAEU Treaty ^[13], unlike the draft Treaty, does not provide for cooperation in the field of space as an independent integration area. Recall that the draft Agreement included article 104 "On cooperation in the field of science, technology and space" ^[14]. However, Kazakhstan's position with regard to this, as well as other related articles, was that the new integration association should be limited mainly to issues of economic integration, although this position was not absolutely rigorous. However, from the point of view of the subject of our article, it is quite interesting that paragraph 1 of Article 104 of the draft provided for the development of cooperation in various fields of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including on the basis of joint programs and projects. In addition, this kind of cooperation was modeled in more detail in Appendix No. 30 to the draft Agreement.

The premise that the initial draft of the EAEU Treaty, as well as subsequent political and legal decisions, included cooperation in the space sphere in the space of integration interaction, is that this area is one of the traditional areas of bilateral cooperation between the EAEU member states. This is evidenced by a number of intergovernmental agreements concluded between the EAEU member states, for example, the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes in 2016 ^[15], the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on cooperation in the field of research and The Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes in 2011 ^[16], the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes in 2008 ^[17].

In principle, the provisions of these agreements are identical. Thus, Article 4 of the Russian-Belarusian agreement and Article 3 of the Russian-Kazakh agreement provide for a fairly large number of areas of cooperation in space. In addition to conducting space research, the number of areas includes remote sensing, which is closely related to other areas and involves them, namely, the development of spacecraft and their means of launching into orbit, the creation and development of ground–based space infrastructure. The peculiarity of Article 5 of the Russian-Armenian agreement is that cooperation in the field of remote sensing is set out in more detail and also provides for the study of the Earth's natural resources and monitoring of emergencies and natural disasters. In turn, instead of the term "development of spacecraft", another formulation is used here, namely, "conducting joint research and development work related to the creation of spacecraft, instruments and systems." However, there is no talk of cooperation in putting spacecraft into orbit.

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that this kind of thematic area of cooperation is an integral element of integration processes at the CIS level ^[18]. This circumstance can be described as an additional factor in deepening this kind of cooperation already in the EAEU format. In the mentioned Agreement, remote sensing is attributed to one of the areas of cooperation, which, in our opinion, should be considered in close connection with such areas as research, development, experimental technical and other work related to space technology and space infrastructure.

Of course, all of these international treaties are not included in the law of the EAEU. In addition, unlike, say, the sphere of industry, agriculture, energy and transport, cooperation in the space sector, including remote sensing, as well as scientific and technical cooperation as such, during the first years of the EAEU's operation was not singled out as one of the formally fixed areas of integration. But anyway, the functioning of the Union corresponds to the logic of expanding integration, i.e. including new directions in it, and also implies its deepening. From the point of view of the subject of our research, this simultaneously means expanding the thematic areas of scientific and technological cooperation between the member states in the format of the Union. A similar expansion occurred in 2018 during the Russian presidency. Paragraph 2 of the Declaration on the Further Development of Integration Processes sets the task, among other things, for the implementation by member States of cooperative projects in the field of space activities ^[19]. It should be noted that at the same time, space technologies and the production of spacecraft are entirely related to the rocket and space industry, which is included in the list of priority economic activities for industrial cooperation of the EAEU states.

Of course, the current Treaty on the EAEU does not include special provisions that regulate cooperation between member states in the space industry in general and the remote sensing sector in particular in an integration format. However, in our opinion, the provisions on scientific and technological cooperation, which are included in Section XXIV "Industry" of the EAEU Treaty, should be considered as a starting point. This is far from accidental, since one of the goals of the EAEU is the innovative modernization of the economy, primarily manufacturing. The innovative focus of industrial policy within the Union is not mentioned in the list of principles (paragraph 2 of Article 92 "Industrial Policy and cooperation"), but this guideline is reflected in paragraph 3 of this article, which establishes the list of goals for the implementation of industrial policy within the Union. These include the following: accelerating and increasing the sustainability of industrial development; increasing the competitiveness of industrial complexes of the member States, as well as effective cooperation aimed at increasing innovation activity; removing barriers in the industrial sphere, including on the way of movement of industrial goods of the member States.

The analyzed Section of the Agreement does not provide for a set of measures that would directly relate to the implementation of each specific goal. However, paragraph 4 of Article 92 provides a fairly complete list of measures necessary and sufficient for these goals to be achieved. The development of innovations in the economy directly includes such measures as the development of technological and information resources for the purposes of industrial cooperation (sub-item 6, paragraph 4, Article 92), joint research and development in order to stimulate high-tech industries (sub-item 7, paragraph 4, Article 92).

The EAEU's attention to the space industry and its constitution as one of the areas of integration interaction is determined by the fact that this is one of the areas of technological breakthrough that can have a positive impact on increasing the competitiveness of the EAEU. Moreover, in the context of the "space race", which the leading space powers have entered, economic competitiveness is increasingly dependent on the breadth of use of space technologies. As noted in the literature, in the context of a sharp breakthrough by the United States in the production of a new generation of satellites and their means of delivery, Russian space services for launching cargo into low-Earth orbit may turn out to be uncompetitive ^{[20, pp. 29-31]}.

All this speaks in favor of the need to move to the early modernization of the space industry based on the development of high technology, which poses new challenges to international cooperation in this area and at the same time creates prerequisites for regional scientific and technological cooperation in this area. In other words, the space industry is a new point of growth and at the same time a sphere of development of industrial, scientific, technological and innovative cooperation at the regional level. In this case, we are also talking about the need to combine the potentials of the space industry of the Union states, taken in the unity of its economic and scientific and technological dimensions.

In these conditions, there is not only a need to develop the strategic and legal foundations of the cooperation in question, but also organizational mechanisms. The latter are mainly represented by the Eurasian Technology Platform "Space and Geoinformation Technologies – products of global competitiveness" (hereinafter – k-ETP) ^{[21, p. 4-5]}, which acts as the most important organizational structure in the field of scientific, technological and industrial cooperation and integration in the space sector. Interaction within the framework of the platform, existing in the format of public-private partnership, is designed to provide a worthy response to the challenges of the technological race in the space sector. As follows from the passport of the k-ETP ^[22], the leading organizations of the EAEU in the space industry are involved in the work of this technological platform. One of the areas of its activity is the implementation of scientific and applied research on the creation of qualitatively new technical and software tools, as well as products and services in the field of space technologies and geoinformation systems.

Due to the fact that in the modern era scientific and technological cooperation, which is closely related to production, is carried out in the format of programs and projects, the programmatic method of regulation is gaining more and more weight. This method is widely used not only at the national level, but also at the level of bilateral interstate scientific, scientific-technical and industrial-technological relations. It also plays an important role at the level of regional associations of States. The fact is that software regulation uses the full potential of such a method as the coordination method.

In addition, it allows combining the vertical ("state" – "subjects under its jurisdiction") and horizontal aspects (intersubjective interaction within the framework of international relations) of integration, and also creates conditions for synergy of initiatives coming from government circles with the initiative coming from various subjects of sectoral and sectoral relations of integration kind of. Moreover, all these ordered relationships are brought together in the "magnetic" field of specific events tied to calendar dates. As can be seen from the EAEU Treaty, as well as strategic planning documents, the Union prefers a program-project basis for cooperation and integration. The project (initiative-project) approach also serves as the organizational basis for the implementation of the Digital Agenda of the Union. In turn, for the first time in the context of integration processes, the programmatic approach has found its embodiment precisely in the field of cooperation between the member States of the space industry, namely the remote sensing sector, and despite the lack of a special legal framework within the framework of the law of the Union. In this case, the general legal framework in the field of industrial cooperation, as well as those agreements that will be concluded between the participants of the program in the context of horizontal integration, become relevant.

2. Factors in the development of programmatic regulation of cooperation between the EAEU Member States in the field of remote sensing of the Earth

All over the world today there is an active surge in the development of remote sensing space systems (hereinafter referred to as remote sensing systems) based on the latest technological developments and digital technologies. There is a rapid expansion of the use of the data obtained in various fields (environmental management, emergency monitoring, hydrometeorology, oceanology, ecology, near-Earth space control, development of industrial and urban infrastructure, etc.). As you can see, remote sensing information data in digital format is an important resource not only for the development of scientific research and obtaining scientific data, information and knowledge, but also the development of economic activity and the implementation of effective public administration. All this indicates the strategic nature of not only the specified geoinformation, but also the very sphere of operation of the Remote sensing system.

Therefore, scientifically and technically developed states are taking quite effective measures to develop remote sensing space systems within the framework of the development of the space industry ^{[23, pp. 18-19]}. All this is complemented today by the processes of its digital transformation, which, according to a number of researchers, is able to bring the industry to new frontiers of development ^{[24, p. 66; 25, p. 40]}. It seems that digital transformations are designed to cover the entire innovation cycle in the space industry, as well as to act as the basis for a new formatting of international cooperation between states through the development and operation of common or integrated digital platforms. All this applies to the remote sensing sector.

It follows from the above that regional cooperation in the space sector is most directly linked to the processes of digital transformation of the economy and society, which in turn are also carried out on an integration basis. This is due to the fact that the development of the digital economy implies a steady expansion of the use of a variety of information collected and analyzed on the basis of appropriate digital technologies. In most cases, this is mainly socio-economic information. The most important resource for further economic growth, including in digital format, is the data obtained during remote sensing. The information received as a result of space activities contributes not only to the development of high-tech business, but also to the digital format of socio-economic innovative development of digital transformation of economic sectors.

In Russia, they fully understand geoinformation as an important resource for the digital transformation of the economy. This is evidenced by the presentation of TERRA TECH JSC, part of the Russian Space Systems holding, which in turn is part of the Roscosmos State Corporation. This presentation, presented at the Interregional Meeting of Digital Development Leaders organized by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation (January 24-26, 2019, Perm), illustrates the possibilities of using remote sensing data and services offered on their basis in the public administration system in the process of digital transformation of Russian economic sectors ^[26].

The level of development of remote sensing systems, in fact, determines the global competitiveness of both certain industries and states as a whole. Meanwhile, the sphere under consideration is not only an arena of competition between states, but also of their cooperation: the development of national DDZ programs in some cases takes place in the context of the formation of international DDZ COP. Thus, the European Space Agency is implementing a program for remote sensing of the Earth – Copernicus ^[27].

One can see a general pattern in this, which is that those countries that combine their efforts to achieve strategic goals receive advantages. At the same time, an increase in the number of countries with their own remote sensing systems is combined with an increase in countries interested in relevant services and products. As a result, the global market for relevant services and products is growing, and, consequently, competition in it is intensifying.

The development of the field under consideration as a whole, as well as an increase in the number and quality of thematic geoinformation products and services, is based on scientific and technological progress, namely, firstly, on the expansion of the species diversity of remote sensing spacecraft (hereinafter referred to as remote sensing spacecraft) and on their innovative characteristics (an increase in the number of research channels; expansion of multispectral capabilities and bands to increase the resolution of spacecraft and reduce their dimensions), secondly, to improve space and geoinformation technologies and control systems for orbital and ground infrastructure, as well as technologies and systems for data acquisition, processing, transmission and, finally, provision to consumers. As such, progress in technology and innovation has today affected remote sensing systems in general and their segments in particular (orbital and ground infrastructure). We have a fairly wide range of scientific and technological development and international cooperation at the same time.

The noted technical and technological trends in the accelerated development of the sector of interest to us form a common background that allows us to assess, firstly, the level of development of the remote sensing sector in the EAEU countries, and, secondly, to determine the level of development of remote sensing systems of an international, in our case regional nature, which is the result of joint efforts.

Considering the first aspect, we note that in the space industry, which, by the way, is unevenly developed in the EAEU states, there are quite similar problems. This should include, for example, a small remote sensing spacecraft fleet with fundamentally new technical characteristics as part of national orbital groupings. The consequence of this is the insufficient frequency of monitoring surveys, as well as the productivity and efficiency of providing remote sensing data by consumers. The problematic points also include difficulties in manufacturing thematic products that would have competitive consumer properties on the world market, which is caused by insufficient quantity and quality of primary remote sensing data. This is complemented by the low level of development of the system for collecting, as well as subsequent systematization and analysis of information on consumer demand for geocosmic products and services in the Member States. These circumstances not only do not allow us to assess the scale of their needs, but also to further generate the primary data necessary for making decisions on the creation of promising remote sensing systems. In general, all these "gaps" lead not only to an extremely low share of the EAEU member states in the global remote sensing market, which is estimated at 0.2–0.3%, but also to an insignificant level of using the potential of geoinformation and space technologies in the socio-economic sphere, and even more so in the interests of developing multi-vector digital transformations. At this time, such leaders of the global remote sensing market as Maxar Technologies ^[28] and Airbus Defense and Space ^[29] have a share of 65% of the global market of geo-information products and services.

The statement of these problems determines, on the one hand, the need to strengthen the attention of individual EAEU countries to the development of this sector at the national level, and on the other hand, creates the need to build up the potentials and use the advantages of the EAEU common economic space. At the same time, two kinds of measures are in relation to correlation. Moreover, in both cases, the use of public-private partnerships is assumed. This means that the scientific and technological circles, as well as private business, should be more intensively involved in solving government tasks in this area, including through participation in the formation of appropriate policies. We believe that it is important not only to meet the needs of users of remote sensing data and services, but also to participate in the formation of the need for the results of space activities, which implies a policy of economic restructuring. Only in this case, conditions will arise for the emergence of a capacious market for space and geoinformation products and services in the EAEU member states.

In other words, the key to success in the development of the remote sensing sector and the services and products they provide is a request coming from the sphere of economic activity. The formation of such a request is the subject of the efforts of the state and private business not only at the national but also at the international level. At these levels, the implementation of a program-oriented approach is an equally effective means of solving these tasks. It allows you to create organizational conditions for solving very complex high-tech tasks in the field of production and in the field of R&D.

As follows from information sources, the Russian orbital constellation of satellites carrying out DDZ consists of 12 devices, and 8 of them belong to high spatial resolution devices ^[30]. At the same time, it is planned to modernize and simultaneously expand ground-based signal reception stations, including receiving signals dropped from foreign devices.

If we turn to Chapter 6 of the State Program of Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020 ^[31], then information and communication and aerospace technologies are classified as priority areas of innovation activity, which are based on the vth and vith technical specifications. Similarly, Chapter 7 "Formation and accelerated development of high-tech sectors of the national economy" provides for a focus on communication and aerospace technologies. All these strategic provisions have found and are being embodied in the functioning of the multi-level Belarusian Remote sensing system. The national operator is the unitary enterprise Geoinformation Systems ^[32].

Within the framework of joint programs of the Union State, a joint orbital grouping (hereinafter – SOG) of Belarus and Russia has been created, represented by one Russian and, accordingly, one Belarusian satellite. At the same time, on January 21, 2020, an agreement was signed between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Roscosmos to increase the COG to 7 satellites in the medium term ^[33].

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, since 2015, the national remote sensing system ^[34] has been operating, based on two optoelectronic spacecraft - medium spatial resolution (KazEOSat–2; 6.5 m) and high resolution (KazEOSat-1; 1 m). The ground segment of the system receives, processes and distributes images. In addition, it collects customer requests for space surveys and monitoring of certain areas of the Earth's surface. The Kazakh project is being implemented jointly with the leading European company Airbus Defense and Space, as well as with the support of Russia. This makes it possible to increase human resources in various areas, namely, the design, production, assembly, testing and operation of spacecraft. The functioning of its own remote sensing system ensures the independence of Kazakhstan in the field of geoinformation, which makes it possible to independently solve economic problems, for example, on the development of agriculture and monitoring of a vast state territory in order to use it effectively.

The scope of space activities in these three EAEU States, including international scientific and technical cooperation in the field of remote sensing, is determined by the provisions of the relevant national laws, as well as the provisions of national space programs. At the same time, the sector of the remote sensing space system is regulated by special articles: Article 17 "Use of the remote sensing space system" of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Space Activities" ^[35]; Articles 31-33 of the Law of the Russian Federation "On Space Activities" ^[36]. It should be noted that the provisions of national laws regulate the legal regime of geoinformation, its storage and provision in varying degrees of detail. Of course, we are not talking about international cooperation here, especially in the field of science and technology. However, the ISTC in the field of remote sensing is fully subject to special provisions on international cooperation, enshrined in these laws.

It can be seen that only three EAEU states have a space industry. Moreover, all this finds its continuation in the closest connection between these States on the issues of exploration and use of outer space. In the literature, this kind of cooperation is characterized as a strategic partnership ^{[37, p. 685]}. The other two EAEU member states do not yet have a space industry, which is a significant barrier to acquiring cooperation in the field of remote sensing on a full-fledged integration scale. Accordingly, this narrows the space for cooperation and integration in the field of R&D and commercialization of remote sensing products and services. But on the other hand, within the framework of the EAEU, there is a provision that those projects and programs in which at least three states participate are interstate. So the integration nature of the interstate program under consideration is obvious.

The fact that not all member States position themselves as its active performers (although, of course, all five Union states are the beneficiaries) reflects the general state of affairs in the space industry, characteristic of the post–Soviet space within the CIS. As A.N. Krishtofor notes, significant barriers include a lack of personnel, high capital intensity of the industry, low level of private capital inflow, etc. ^{[38, p. 65]}.As a result, Kyrgyzstan, for example, does not yet have its own satellite. But one can see the formation of a national policy in the field of space activities. Its result is that, with the support of foreign countries, a prototype of the first Kyrgyz satellite was created ^[39].Armenia, which developed optics for Soviet satellites during the Soviet period, is also moving in this direction ^[40]. The formation of national sectoral legislation will be important in this process. In particular, Armenia has adopted a law on space activities ^[41].The law indicates serious intentions in this area, including in the field of remote sensing sector development.

The drafting of the law coincided with the adoption of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, which we indicated at the beginning of the article. In line with the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, the Russian Space Systems holding, which is part of Roscosmos, on the one hand, and the parent company of Armenia in the field of using the results of space activities, Geokosmos CJSC, on the other, have concluded an agreement on cooperation in the field of remote sensing technology development ^[42]. This agreement provides for the provision of technological assistance to the Armenian remote sensing data reception and processing station, as a result of which it will be possible to receive information from Russian satellites, use it and further distribute it on the basis of a sublicense agreement. This will allow Geocosmos to launch its own geoinformation services using remote sensing data, as well as use not only Russian, but also other foreign technological and marketing solutions with a high degree of localization. In other words, this kind of cooperation will contribute to the formation and strengthening of Armenia's national competencies in the field under consideration. This involves building up human resources to enable the development and use of geoinformation data technologies and services. All this is complemented by cooperation in the field of instrumentation, improvement of ground-based management infrastructure, data reception and processing, as well as in the field of software.

It is noteworthy that the EAEU observer States, in particular Uzbekistan, are also beginning to take decisive steps in the development of space activities. The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan UP-5806-son 30.08.2019 "On the development of space activities in the Republic of Uzbekistan" ^[43] notes that, despite the availability of scientific and technical potential, activities in the field of space research and technology, including remote sensing, are not carried out in the republic. In order to eliminate this significant gap in the roadmap for the development of the space industry, reasonable measures are provided, which include, inter alia, measures for the development of a ground-based geoinformation reception system (station) and the formation of national satellite complexes. It seems that Uzbekistan is a promising partner who may be interested in access to geoinformation, as well as products and services that the EAEU Remote Sensing System can provide.

Let us draw attention once again to the fact that the area of cooperation we are exploring is relevant in view of the acceleration of technological development of this sector in foreign countries, as well as the strategic nature of space and geoinformation technologies. There is no doubt that currently the EAEU member states alone will not be able to overcome various levels of barriers, such as technological, marketing, foreign trade, etc., which are on the way to entering the world markets of remote sensing products and services. There is an obvious shortage of resources here. They can be replenished by the results that will be obtained through joint activities based on the combination of industrial, scientific, technical, financial, organizational and marketing resources.

As you can see, there are similar interests of the EAEU member states in the field of space and geoinformation technologies. All this is the basis for the formation of common goals and the formulation of common tasks. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the initiative to develop the Program was taken by the ETP "Space and Geoinformation Technologies – products of global competitiveness" (hereinafter – k-ETP), which is a mechanism for cooperation and integration of the EAEU in the space industry. This kind of initiative was also supported by the A.A. Maksimov Scientific Research Institute of Space Systems/branch of the joint-stock company "State Space Research and Production Center named after M.V. Khrunichev" (organization of the State Corporation for Space Activities Roscosmos). Such an initiative is directly related to solving one of the tasks of this technical platform, namely, the task of forming proposals for the implementation of a special Eurasian research program in the field of creating unified mechanisms for the development and use of spatial data, remote sensing technologies, and obtaining analytical information.

In essence, the k-ETP serves as a specialized platform for bringing together all interested scientific and technical organizations, businesses, and public organizations from the Union states to strengthen industrial and scientific and technical cooperation in the field of space and geoinformation technologies. The goals of joining efforts include the creation and implementation of innovative space and geoinformation technologies based on remote sensing data sources. But not only that. In addition to technologies and spacecraft, it is also necessary to include the joint development of innovative products and services in the field of DDZ. In turn, the ultimate goal is to combine technological, organizational and managerial competencies to increase the global competitiveness of the EAEU member states in the field of these technologies and, of course, space systems. This implies such a line of activity as the commercialization of space services and products on the world market.

It is noteworthy that k-ETP is not going to "implement" these technologies in an accelerated manner. There is a very cautious approach here. This is reflected in the fact that one of the tasks of the tech platform is to monitor the system conditions of the current state, directions of development and needs of certain sectors of the economy of the member states in the field of not only the creation of space and geoinformation technologies, products and services, but also their use. Accordingly, this actualizes such activities as expert, consulting and information support for manufacturers and consumers of geoinformation products and services.

The tech platform focuses on solving the problem of creating a single automatic database of space products and services. All this is quite reasonable, since the use of these products and services is aimed at developing the economies of the member states in an integration format. In turn, it is this format that determines the need to solve the task of developing a coordinated technological policy of the member States, which would take into account the interests of developers, manufacturers and consumers of space and geoinformation products and services, as well as modern technological and marketing trends. All this is quite feasible, since k-ETP positions itself as an expert platform that will contribute to the assessment of the scientific and commercial potential of software products in the geoinformation field. It seems that it is possible to evaluate public policy measures and develop appropriate recommendations.

At the same time, the tasks of the tech platform include the formation of a single geoinformation space, which, of course, involves the development and subsequent implementation of a unified approach by member States to the creation and formation of databases of various geospatial data. The unified geographic information space is also based on the integration of space and geographic information systems of the DDZ. From our point of view, it can be considered as an integral part of the information space of the EAEU as a whole, which is so important in the situation of the formation of the digital economy.

In the development of initiatives emanating from the k-ETP, at a meeting in the Eurasian Economic Commission (hereinafter referred to as the EEC), held on August 18, 2017, chaired by a member of the Board (Minister) The EEC on Industry and the agro-industrial complex, organizational and technical issues were raised in connection with the development of the draft Interstate Program. In paragraph 1 of Order No. 4 of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council dated October 11, 2017, the member States were tasked with preparing, with the coordinating role of the EEC, proposals on an appropriate Interstate program ^[44]. At the same time, paragraph 2 instructed the EEC to submit relevant proposals to the Supreme Council by November 1, 2018.

Let us draw attention to the fact that the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council showed interest in this area of cooperation also in 2018. Taking into account the information received from the EAEU member States on cooperation in the space sector, thematic Order No. 6 dated December 6, 2018 was approved ^[45]. Paragraph 3 of this regulation is of great conceptual importance, in which the Program is regarded as a tool for integrating national space systems, designing and manufacturing modern spacecraft within the framework of cooperation between enterprises of Member States interested in cooperation in providing space and geoinformation services based on national data sources.

This kind of cooperation and integration in related thematic areas was summarized in proposals (in the number of 8) for the development of this cooperation, which were approved by the specified Decree No. 6. It was on their basis that it was proposed to develop an Interstate program. The proposals included plans for the formation of a joint (combined) orbital satellite constellation (hereinafter – OSG), the creation of an integrated information retrieval system based on remote sensing data, the formation of industrial cooperation of enterprises for the joint development and production of promising spacecraft, etc. It should also be pointed out the development and launch of competitive geoinformation services and thematic remote sensing products and the integration of information resources of existing orbital groupings of spacecraft of the member States of the Union.

To develop the Program in 2017, by decision of the Eurasian Economic Commission (hereinafter referred to as the EEC), a special Interstate working group was established on the development of cooperation between the EAEU countries in the provision of space and geoinformation services based on national remote sensing data sources. The decision to create it was made at a meeting within the framework of the EEC. The Group included representatives of national space agencies (Roscosmos State Corporation, the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan /Kazkosmos); representatives of k-ETP, scientific and industrial enterprises; national remote sensing operators. At the same time, representatives of the EEC took an active part.

The Working Group held its meetings at a variety of venues. Thus, the first meeting was held within the framework of the forum "Space Days of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2017" (10/23/2017), and then at the site of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus. The Group's work unfolded in two stages. At the first stage, starting from the end of 2017, analytical work was carried out to discuss the possibility and necessity of developing a special international agreement on cooperation between the countries of the Union in the field of space and geoinformation services system development. In addition, an analysis was carried out of the possibilities of cooperation offered by existing multilateral agreements. The second stage is the development of the draft Program itself. As part of the second stage, the full list of activities covered by the program was agreed at the third meeting of the Interstate Working Group on the Development of the Interstate Program, and its draft was approved at the 17th meeting of the EEC Advisory Committee on Industry (07/18/2018) ^[46]. This work was completed in early 2019. The next meeting of the Working Group was held on January 28, 2019 at the headquarters of the EEC, at which the work plan for completing the project was approved. The meeting of the Working Group was chaired by a member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agro-industrial Complex. This indicates that the development of the space industry falls within the competence of the Department of Industrial Policy ^[47]. Finally, in April 2020, the EEC Board issued an order on a draft decision on the program under consideration^[48], which was approved, as we already indicated at the very beginning of the article, by Decision No. 4 of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council dated July 17, 2020.

It should be emphasized that the adoption of the Program is not only related to the current situation, but also represents a logical continuation of the realization of interest in the development of remote sensing systems both at the level of bilateral agreements in the field of space cooperation and within the framework of national plans (strategies and programs) of the EAEU member States.

This program is the first tool for proper programmatic regulation of the EAEU sectoral cooperation and integration cooperation in the industrial sphere, as well as in sectoral scientific and technological cooperation. Since sectoral scientific and technological cooperation is an integral part of this cooperation, the Program can be considered as a tool for the development of sectoral scientific and technological cooperation within the framework of the EAEU. This conclusion is fully consistent with the requirements defined in the Regulation on the Development, Financing and Implementation of Interstate Programs and Projects in the Industrial sector ^[49], developed in order to implement subparagraph 4.4.3 of the Main Directions of Industrial Cooperation within the EAEU for the period up to 2020 ^[50]. It is envisaged that the industrial cooperation of the participants in the relevant programs (projects) includes scientific, technical and innovative cooperation. The most important requirement put forward in relation to programs (projects) is their fundamental novelty and promising technical, organizational and other solutions that are necessary for the widespread dissemination of innovations and increasing the competitiveness of industrial products (paragraph 7 (b)). It is also noteworthy that the program (project) must necessarily include an assessment of the socio-economic, environmental and other consequences of the implementation of the program (project) (paragraph 16 (h)). In addition, the annual report on the results of the implementation of the program (project) should contain information on the results of scientific research and the implementation of relevant scientific, technological and innovative developments, as well as information on their effectiveness.

3. Production and technological component of the Program activities

Before considering the Program as a tool for scientific, technological and industrial cooperation and integration of the EAEU member states in one of the sectors of the space industry, it should be described as the most important achievement of integration processes at the regional level. The program, consolidating the principles of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, assumes equal access to the planned results. In general, it is aimed at updating the advantages of the single economic space operating within the framework of the EAEU in order to combine the industrial, scientific, technical and marketing potential of the member states.

At the same time, we can see an advance in the development of software regulation of an industry in which interaction does not yet have direct contractual and legal bases compared, say, with the sphere of heavy industry or agriculture. In addition, the Program under consideration, which is the first developed, adopted, and planned program, can be regarded as evidence of the consolidation of cooperation between the member States of the Union in the space sector as an independent integration area in which economic and scientific and technological cooperation is combined into one whole.

The interstate program proceeds from the fact that remote sensing data (digital information) makes it possible to solve a whole host of tasks in the field of environmental management, emergency situations, development of industrial and urban infrastructure, etc. The operation of the Integrated Space Remote Sensing System (hereinafter referred to as the Remote Sensing System) will contribute to a multiple increase in the volume of information. As a result, the level of providing both public authorities and a wide range of consumers of the member states with information obtained on the basis of remote sensing in order to improve the quality of meeting the needs of various sectors of the economy of the EAEU countries in geocosmic information and derivative products will increase.

Through the expansion of cooperation ties, in which scientific organizations and industrial enterprises will participate, it is planned to develop, manufacture and launch high-tech remote sensing spacecraft, the formation of software complexes and services for geospatial analytics. During the implementation of these initiatives, new production facilities and, accordingly, jobs will be created. The beneficiaries of the program are a wide range of geoinformation users: business, citizens, and the public sector.

The document assumes two closely related areas – joint development, as well as joint production and use of innovative space assets (orbital and ground segments of the ISS) and geoinformation products, for example, final geoinformation, and services on a cooperative basis. Thus, there is a clear focus on the implementation of an integrated approach to strengthening the promising direction of development of EAEU cooperation in the space industry. As a result, the Program is a tool for regulating and developing industrial cooperation in this sector of the space industry, which consists in cooperation in the production and operation of remote sensing systems, the creation and use of geoinformation products based on data obtained from national orbital groupings, the joint development of geoinformation technologies, including integration process management tools, the use of and the provision of data, products and services.

From the point of view of the subject of our article, we emphasize that the goal of the program is clearly defined as the creation of not only organizational and resource, but also scientific and technical conditions for the implementation of integration processes in the participating states in the field of development and application of remote sensing space systems. This should lead to increased competitiveness in the global market of geoinformation data, products and services supplied by Member States.

Indeed, since today there is an intensification of competition between states in the field under consideration, through the joint efforts of specific groups of countries, opportunities arise to solve the problem associated with the extremely low level of joint development and implementation of geoinformation technologies, which are a type of so-called digital technologies, as well as the low level of production and operation of remote sensing systems, the creation of geoinformation products and the provision of geoinformation services. It should be noted that the Program involves not only increasing global competitiveness, but also achieving maximum independence of the EAEU member states from the supply of remote sensing data from third countries.

The approach itself, which is fixed in the tasks of the Program, is very interesting. So, one of the tasks is the formation of the ISS on the basis of national orbital groupings of remote sensing spacecraft and ground–based complexes. The joint orbital grouping will include 13 satellites. We emphasize in a special way that we are not talking about creating a common, but about forming an integrated CS. As you can see, the same approach is carried out in the third task. As a promising vector, it is envisaged to expand the functionality of the ICS of the member states by creating and including in its composition promising CS based on remote sensing spacecraft of medium and ultra–high spatial resolution, created within the framework of cooperation of industrial enterprises of the member states. But, as you can see from the Program passport, we are not talking about new satellites that are common, but about new Kazakh and Belarusian satellites created on a cooperative basis. The Program provides targets that will form the basis for evaluating the achievement of the goals and objectives of the program.

The program includes three blocks of events involving scientific and technical cooperation. These events are aimed at solving the relevant tasks of the Program.

The first block of thematic events concerns the development of regulatory documents. The second block of an industrial and technological nature is aimed at creating hardware and software complexes to ensure the formation and functioning of remote sensing systems (2021-2024). The third block is the creation of promising CS based on remote sensing systems of medium and ultra-high spatial resolution as part of remote sensing systems (2021-2025). As you can see, blocks of measures are implemented almost simultaneously, this saves time and can lead to a synergistic effect. In turn, each thematic block assumes a change in the consistent implementation of content-related specific activities.

If we turn to the characteristics of scientific and technical cooperation within the framework of the second block of thematic events, then we can see that the research work "Substantiation of the design appearance of the Integrated Space Remote Sensing System of the member States" (2021) will become a kind of gateway for cooperation. Indeed, the implementation of this project is an extremely responsible event requiring scientific justification and the conceptual framework. It should be noted that this research is designed to solve the problem not only of modeling the creation of the ISS, describing the design appearance of promising spacecraft, but also of modeling its composition and structure, including the orbital and ground segments. This also includes modeling the directions of its technical operation, methods of commercialization of jointly obtained results. In fact, all segments of the Integrated System, both orbital and ground–based complexes, are the subject of joint research and development. Therefore, the research project "Substantiation of the design appearance of the remote sensing ICS of the member states" is designed to develop draft feasibility studies and tactical and technical tasks for experimental design work on the creation of ICS.

Let's pay attention to the fact that within the framework of research, the composition and technical characteristics of the OSG, which acts as the basis for an Integrated system for providing space and geoinformation services, should receive their justification ^[51]. Its creation is one of the key projects of the Interstate Program. Moreover, the OSG should include not only existing, but also promising groupings of satellites created and being created according to national space programs.

The action plan for the formation of the OSG was developed by the EEC in conjunction with the k-ETP at the time. The creation of this grouping for the period 2020-2024 and beyond until 2027, involving the pooling of relevant remote sensing resources, is one of the key, but at the same time the most difficult moments in the implementation of this project. This will make a significant contribution to increasing the coverage area of the observed territory, strengthening such characteristics as the frequency of review and the efficiency of transmitting remote sensing information to consumers. The association will include not only existing spacecraft created within the framework of national space programs, but also promising samples being developed and launched in the countries of the Union. The plans include the creation of spacecraft with an innovative Earth observation complex. As a result, the chances of increasing the competitiveness of the unified satellite resources of the EAEU in the global market of space and geoinformation services are increasing.

Of course, this should be complemented by the creation of a ground component, namely a ground-based remote sensing control complex, as well as a complex for receiving, processing and distributing information received from satellites. All these components, as we noted, will be subject to justification within the framework of research. It should be noted that diverse areas of industrial and technological cooperation are opening up, as well as cooperation in the field of experimental design developments of enterprises of the member states, which, of course, implies the development of appropriate proposals.

The implementation of this program involves the development of industrial cooperation between enterprises of the Union countries that are related to the space industry. All this requires working out the issue of the list of enterprises interested in establishing cooperative cooperation. Moreover, it is quite noticeable here that industrial cooperation is complemented by cooperation in the field of designing both spacecraft and cooperation in creating the necessary infrastructure elements. Thus, one of the promising areas of joint R&D should include the creation and inclusion in the OSG of a number of modern spacecraft: spacecraft with a spatial resolution in the panchromatic mode of at least 0.4 m, small spacecraft with a spatial resolution in the panchromatic mode of at least 0.8-1.0 m; small spacecraft with wide-ranging optoelectronic equipment with a spatial resolution of not less than less than 6 m.; spacecraft with radar target equipment.

The second event as part of the second thematic block involves the creation and modernization of hardware and software complexes for receiving remote sensing data from national remote sensing operators in order to ensure their capabilities for receiving, processing and distributing remote sensing data received from remote sensing ICS (2022-2024). That is, we are talking about the further development of the national level of the ground segment. But here attention is drawn to such a direction as the modernization of hardware, software and technical means of receiving remote sensing data from national operators so that these means are functionally compatible with respect to receiving and processing remote sensing data from any national remote sensing systems. The result is a truly integrated system.

All this requires, firstly, the timely development and production of compatible hardware and software complexes and tools, and secondly, installation and commissioning work on the modernization of existing stations/points of ground-based complexes for receiving, processing and distributing information by national remote sensing operators. This will require the timely development of design and technical documentation.

The results of this event create the basis for the third event within the framework of the second thematic block, namely, the formation of an integrated ground–based information search system (infrastructure) based on the systems of national operators of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan (2021-2023). The integrated search system will be in unity with the metadata bank for archival materials and standard remote sensing products based on the information search systems of national remote sensing control system operators. This will be done by combining the national information search systems of national operators into a single network for searching, receiving and processing information from any satellites of the Union countries. In fact, there is the formation of not only unified information resources, as well as a unified data bank on space survey materials, but also a geographically distributed unified spacecraft database.

The integrated search system will include a number of subsystems: a centralized order for the execution of surveys from national remote sensing operators, a centralized order for archival space surveys, provision of information about survey materials, search for data on survey materials, regulation of access to space survey data. Let us draw attention to the fact that it is planned to improve the software package for ensuring access of national operators of one Member State to the survey results obtained by the spacecraft of other Member States.

At the same time, there is a noticeable focus on the use of digital platform solutions. In particular, it is planned to create a digital cloud platform that provides users with remote access to remote sensing data processing tools received from the remote sensing ICS of the member States, and further promotes the production of geoinformation products based on them and its promotion on the world market.

An important step towards the implementation of this project will be the exchange of remote sensing images obtained from national satellites in text mode. As a result, a single information portal will be created, which is a kind of data bank for space survey materials produced by OSG. This portal will include various services for monitoring industrial and urban areas, transport corridors, forestry and agriculture, which will be complemented by a single complex for coordinating survey planning and will significantly improve the quality of geoinformation services provided. This network will ensure the achievement of the necessary completeness of remote sensing data received from both national orbital groupings and COG. Hence, additional conditions arise to increase the level of availability of remote sensing data to public authorities. There will be an opportunity to expand the demand for data that is obtained from the COG. All this, on the one hand, will ensure import substitution of remote sensing data obtained from spacecraft of third countries, and on the other hand, it will facilitate global users' access to the combined resources of national remote sensing systems, which will create an opportunity to commercialize geoinformation products on the market of third countries.

And finally, the fourth event involves the creation of a hardware and software complex for ensuring interaction and coordinated use of national ground-based remote sensing control complexes and remote sensing data reception complexes of the member states (2022-2024). The prerequisite of this event is that national operators use different types of spacecraft both as part of national groupings and as part of A SMILE. Hence, there is a technical need for coordinated application of different types of spacecraft. The content of this event includes: the creation of a hardware and software complex that should ensure coordinated planning of surveys from national remote sensing spacecraft and the organization of an optimal remote sensing data reset in place and time; the creation of a software package for information protection and access channels to the developed and shared information resources of national orbital remote sensing spacecraft groups. It is quite obvious that another space for joint R&D is emerging here – starting from the creation of experimental images of hardware and software complexes that ensure coordinated survey planning, coordinated use of national ground-based remote sensing control complexes and remote sensing data reception complexes of the member States.

The third block of thematic events includes the creation of a promising joint remote sensing space system based on spacecraft of medium and ultra-high spatial resolution (2021-2025). There are high-tech results of the implementation of this event, which are designed to diversify the orbital constellation of spacecraft. Their development and production will be carried out in the process of cooperation between enterprises of the Union countries. It is assumed that in terms of their characteristics, promising spacecraft of joint production will not only correspond to the best world samples of space technology, but also surpass foreign analogues in some technical parameters. This is what will strengthen the competitive advantages in the remote sensing data market, represented by major players such as Airbus D&S, 21AT., Maxar Technologies, etc. It should be noted that this event also involves the formation of a new or modernization of the existing ground–based remote sensing control infrastructure of the member states with a unified remote sensing control, reception and processing network. That is, here we are talking not just about the coordination of ground-based hardware and software systems for spacecraft control and data reception, but about the formation of a unified network. This is quite necessary in view of the formation of a new grouping of spacecraft of medium and ultra-high spatial resolution.

The program provides for the phased development of one, and then two more Kazakh spacecraft of medium spatial resolution, i.e. high-detail photography, which are analogues of the Belarusian BKA-2 platinum device. Serial production of new generation satellites is planned from 2030. The cooperation of enterprises for the creation and production of spacecraft for SOG will lead to an increase in the capacity of existing and new manufacturers of electronic components by 70%.

As such, medium spatial resolution spacecraft can solve a number of problems:

- large-scale topographic and thematic mapping of the territory;

- updating and filling up-to-date remote sensing data of geoinformation services;

- detection of moving objects;

- detection, recognition, differentiation and monitoring of natural and anthropogenic objects.

At the same time, the question arises about the means of launching satellite data into an orbit with a height of 500-600 km. As such, the Soyuz-2 launch vehicles and the Fregat upper stage will become. At the same time, it is planned to develop and put into operation a ground-based hardware and software complex for managing new spacecraft and a ground-based complex for receiving, processing and distributing remote sensing data with subsequent integration into the ground-based remote sensing control infrastructure.

With a mass of Kazakhstan remote sensing spacecraft of no more than 150 kg, it is planned that it will be able to provide shooting with a resolution of up to 6 m. (GSD) with 6 spectral channels and a capture band of at least 120 km. Thus, the Program provides for the renewal of the national spacecraft fleet itself. It is envisaged that in addition to the creation of a Kazakh satellite and its testing, the development of a space complex will be carried out; the spacecraft will be launched using Russian means of launching into orbit.

And finally, the most ambitious project is the creation of a promising remote sensing system based on an ultra–high spatial resolution remote sensing spacecraft. On the basis of Russian-Belarusian industrial cooperation, it is planned to develop, test and launch spacecraft of this type No. 1 (2025) and form the foundation for the creation of remote sensing spacecraft No. 2. Belarusian enterprises will take over the work on the creation of optoelectronic target survey equipment on the basis of self-financing. At the same time, the ground infrastructure (ground control complex and reception station) will be upgraded to work as part of the remote sensing systems of the Member States.

The data obtained from spacecraft of this kind, which differ in fundamentally new technical characteristics, will allow us to solve the following tasks:

- inventory of natural resources, including agricultural and forest lands, pastures, seafood fishing areas, etc.;

- monitoring of economic processes in order to ensure rational activity in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, water, etc. farms of the Member States;

- conducting state topographic monitoring;

- creation of city plans;

- creation of digital terrain models;

- monitoring of pollution and degradation of the natural environment, as well as emergency situations (floods, droughts, etc.);

- environmental monitoring of the residential territory of the Member States;

- inventory of industrial infrastructure and housing and communal services, as well as control over their construction.

Thus, there are joint high-tech projects. Of course, the program is designed for 5 years. But it is envisaged that it can be extended for 3 years. And this is quite justified, since there is a novelty and complexity in the development, production and commissioning of space technology, especially in the production of ultra-high spatial resolution spacecraft.

4. Characteristics of the planned results of the program implementation

The analysis of the program shows that the distinctive feature of the planned results is their versatility. Firstly, this is an informational result. This should include bringing the volume of medium, high and ultra-high resolution information in the amount of 4.43 million square kilometers/day. Secondly, it is a result of a technical nature. It includes the creation of a remote sensing spacecraft of medium-high spatial resolution with world-class competitive technical characteristics, formed by the remote sensing system both on the basis of existing national spacecraft and spacecraft that will be created during the implementation of the program.

An equally important aspect of the program's implementation will be the modernization of the network of ground-based hardware and software complexes for remote sensing control, as well as for receiving, processing and distributing information. In addition, an important achievement will be the formation of an integrated information search system of the member states, which contains data on archival materials and standard products based on information search systems of national remote sensing operators, the creation of a hardware and software package to ensure interaction and coordinated use (application planning) of ground-based remote sensing control complexes and remote sensing data reception complexes of the states – members.

And, finally, thirdly, as a result, it is necessary to point out the integration effect, including the creation of organizational, scientific, technical and resource conditions for the implementation of integration processes in the field of development and application of remote sensing systems. The results of this kind in section IX "Expected results of the Program" include the strengthening of interstate and intersectoral relations in the state and industrial structures of the rocket and space industry of the member States and the formation of industrial cooperation of enterprises of the space industries of the member States for the purposes of joint creation and application of remote sensing systems. As a result, the implementation of the Program, on the one hand, will involve the coordinated functioning and development of national remote sensing systems, and on the other – to stimulate these processes, which will solve the problematic aspects of the development of the remote sensing sector of the member States.

As we have already noted, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are involved in cooperation within the framework of the Program. As a result of the addition of potentials, it is quite possible to obtain a visible overall result that is accessible to all participants of the program. But there is one important area of effort here. It seems reasonable to extrapolate the thesis concerning bilateral cooperation to this format of cooperation. In particular, the literature indicates that in order to, for example, "mutually beneficial Kazakh-Russian partnership in the space sector, it is necessary that the technological and technical development of the states be approximately at the same level" ^{[52, p. 692]}. We believe that such alignment will be facilitated by participation in the Program, which should also be directly and inversely related to cooperation at the bilateral level.

Participation in the program of the three states fully meets the criterion of the integration nature of the project. Indeed, it can be seen that the national coordinating customers represent three countries: the National Academy of the Republic of Belarus; the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Roscosmos State Corporation. Roscosmos is responsible for the Program. The category of participants includes national customers-coordinators, as well as enterprises and organizations of k-ETP.

But it will be important to involve those countries of the Union that do not have their own space (orbital) vehicles, in particular Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, but are somehow beneficiaries of the development of the unified remote sensing system. Thus, representatives of these states take an active part in events on space issues that are organized within the framework of the EAEU. An important event was the inclusion of such an enterprise from Armenia as CJSC Geokosmos into the k-ETP. This decision was made at the annual general meeting of the ETP participants on October 22-24, 2017. It is noteworthy that this event coincided with the intensification of cooperation within the framework of this technology platform and the transition to the final stage of developing a draft Interstate program for the production and provision of space and geoinformation services.

In a special way, we will highlight two more important results of the upcoming implementation of the Program. First, it is stimulating the implementation of the EAEU Digital Agenda. Due to the fact that geoinformation resources have the potential for digital transformation of the economies of the member states, including the development of high–tech business, there is every reason to believe that the formation of a capacious EAEU market in the field of geoinformation services and products is directly and inversely related to the implementation of the Digital Agenda of the EAEU and the digital agendas of the member states. All this is closely related to the introduction of geoinformation technologies into integration process management tools, including in the field of digital transformations. Of course, this relationship needs to be conceptualized. The impetus for this understanding is not only the results of scientific research and analytical materials, but also the provisions of the Program itself. Thus, section X "Assessment of socio-economic, environmental and other consequences of the implementation of the Program" begins with the thesis that the use of planned results can make a significant contribution to the formation of the digital economy. This, among other things, will contribute to accelerating the pace of economic development, of course, in the wake and in accordance with the logic of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the core of which is the technological basis of digital technologies.

The fact that the geoinformation sector closely correlates with the development of the digital economy is evidenced by the national development plans of some EAEU member states for the digital transformation of the economy. In them, remote sensing systems are considered in the context of new industries based on the introduction of post-industrial technologies ("industries of the future"). We point to the Digital Earth project as part of the Russian state program "Digital Economy", which aims to ensure the growth of geoinformation and navigation services and the growth of the Russian remote sensing share in the global market ^[53]. Certain attention is paid to the foreign experience of the role of geoinformation technologies and big data in the field of agriculture, contributing to the rational use of resources, in the Program "Digital Kazakhstan" ^[54]. All this indicates the general interest of this state in the use of geoinformation resources, which, as we have already noted, is based on the development of the national CS, which is complemented by the dynamic development of satellite communications and satellite broadcasting (CS KazSat2, KazSat3).

Let's conclude: the inclusion of issues of remote sensing and the use of geoinformation resources in the digital agenda of the member States of the Union is an objective prerequisite for the role that the Program can play for the formation and development of the digital economy of the EAEU member States. We should not forget about the effects of the implementation of the Program for sustainable development. In the Program paragraphs covering the content of various events, you can see a clear list of tasks that they are aimed at solving and which we have already mentioned in general. It can be noted that in section X of the Program it is said that it is designed not only to promote the development of the digital economy, but also to solve other related tasks, namely, effective environmental monitoring, protection from natural disasters and adverse environmental factors, improving the standard and quality of life of the population. All this is quite relevant to the issue of sustainable development, which is given increased attention in the EAEU. In addition, the digital economy today is considered not as something independent in relation to the "green" economy, but as its link. This is what makes it possible to consider the digital economy as a space in which the transition to sustainable development and the achievement of its goals should be carried out. Therefore, it is precisely the ability of geoinformation technologies and products to provide a correlation between sustainable economic growth and environmental protection that makes it possible to consider the Program as a contribution to achieving at the regional level the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ^[55]. This circumstance is all the more relevant because serious work has recently been carried out within the framework of the United Nations to identify the potential of space technologies for the transition to sustainable development and the achievement of its goals ^[56].

With full clarity, the theme of sustainable development is included in the Program of digital transformation of the Kyrgyz Republic "Taza Koom" ^[57].Moreover, Taza Koom is considered as one of the key factors and catalysts for accelerating and contributing to the sustainable development of the country and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the intersectoral use of ICT. It is in this Program that the construction of a world-class digital infrastructure based on "green" technologies is proclaimed (Taza Koom Goal No. 1), and it also talks about the formation of the big data industry (Goal 2.5). Undoubtedly, the provision of geographic information services and products to Kyrgyzstan can have a significant impact on the achievement of these goals (however, as well as on other goals of national development as such), as well as on a number of other tasks: disaster risk reduction and provision of ICT in emergency situations (task 1.3); digital services and solutions for adaptation to climate change and mitigation, environmental protection through effective management of water and other natural resources and waste (task 3.7).

This circumstance is also fully consistent with Principles 10 and 11 listed in the UN Principles on Remote Sensing ^[58]. They provide for the widespread use of geoinformation for environmental protection and protection from natural disasters.

5. Factors of successful implementation of the program

As with any other interstate programs that provide for a system of interrelated activities, the thesis about the existence of a number of factors for its successful implementation will be true with regard to the Program we are interested in. Thus, one of the fundamental factors of this kind should include an effective management regime and a clear distribution of roles. In particular, at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in December 2018, it was decided to distribute competencies in the project as follows: Russia will develop and design devices, Belarus – manufacture electronic and optoelectronic component base, while Kazakhstan – satellite assembly ^[59].

If we focus on the management mode, then the Responsible for the Program (Roscosmos) should create a project office – a special organizational structure that complements the process of forming a list of performers by the Responsible and national customers. The basis for the implementation of the Program is civil law contracts. They are concluded in accordance with the established procedure by the participants of the Program (recall, these are national customers-coordinators and enterprises, as well as organizations of the k-ETP).

Please note that the Responsible Person for the Program submits an annual report to the EEC. One of the points of the report should be information about the results of R&D, the results of the introduction of innovative developments and the effectiveness of such developments. Of course, the effectiveness of such developments is an integral part of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Program, the calculation method of which is presented in section IX in the aggregate assessment of socio-economic and environmental consequences. As such, the control system for the implementation of the Program is based on paragraph 27 of the Regulation on the Development, Financing and Implementation of Interstate Programs and Projects in the Industrial sector.

An additional factor in improving the effectiveness of interaction, of course, is the strengthening of the coordinating role of the EEC. The Commission makes its decisions on the basis of serious analytical data obtained as part of research conducted under its auspices. The Advisory Committee on Industrial Policy at the EEC, in paragraph 4.1.2 of its Protocol of the 16th meeting, approved the inclusion in the plan of scientific research of the Commission in 2018 of research on the topic "Research on ways to improve the efficiency of industrial and innovative cooperation of the EAEU member States in the field of creation and use of space and geoinformation technologies, promotion of space products and services to the world market" ^[60].

Paragraph 4 of the Order of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council dated December 6, 2018 No. 6 ^[61] provided that interested member States should ensure the implementation of the activities of the Interstate Program in accordance with the procedure provided for by the relevant legislation of the member States as part of national space programs, as well as ensure their necessary financing. Such a campaign is reflected in the program passport. It should be noted that an addition in the form of supranational financing would be quite rational. In particular, the Eurasian Development Bank is showing interest in such a large-scale project. It should be borne in mind that the draft decree of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council "On the inclusion of the Eurasian Development Bank in the state programs of the member States of the Eurasian Economic Union" is currently being finalized, providing support measures for the implementation of projects in the industrial sector and the agro–industrial complex."

Recall that one of the objectives of the Program is the development and coordination of organizational, administrative, regulatory, technical and methodological documents defining the rules for interaction and coordination of the activities of member States and national operators of remote sensing systems when creating remote sensing systems. Moreover, one of the indicators includes the development of 10 documents of an organizational, administrative, regulatory, technical and methodological nature, which ensure the harmonization of the legislation of the member States in the field of remote sensing. In addition, the development of this category of documents to ensure the creation of remote sensing systems of the Member States for 2021-2025 is one of the activities included in the Program.

But it seems that we need to look further here and talk about such a factor as the harmonization of national legislation and plans in the space sector.As a reference, we note that in Article 5 of the CIS Convention on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes in 2018, the harmonization of national regulatory legal and technical documents of the Parties in the field of space activities is explicitly indicated as a direction of cooperation. In our case, this kind of harmonization is the most important aspect of the legal tools for the successful implementation of the Program. This aspect implies, in a more specific form, the harmonization of the regulatory and regulatory framework in the field of creation and use of space and geoinformation technologies.This issue, which was in the field of attention of the Working Group, also attracts the attention of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. However, a roadmap for such coordination has not been developed. The reason for this is the absence of provisions on cooperation in space activities in the EAEU Treaty, as well as the absence of a protocol on coordinating the policies of member States in the field of space activities. However, despite this, harmonization may well be carried out on an initiative basis.

Accordingly, a new layer of joint work on the harmonization of legislation is emerging. It is clear that at the moment there is no complete coordination in national legislation. But this harmonization is aimed at by paragraph 4 of the Passport of the k-ETP, in which one of the areas of activity includes the improvement of the regulatory framework for the use of space products and services in the territories of the member States. All this should be complemented by work on the harmonization of national space programs, including from the point of view of adopting in the long term a single comprehensive Interstate program for space exploration and use, as is the case in the EU.

Today, as stated in the literature, it is possible to see differences in the priorities of development of certain segments of the space industry. In particular, T.J. Imash points out that Kazakhstan, as a relatively young state in the field of space industry development, focuses on the development of satellite communications and broadcasting, as well as on the development of remote sensing systems, while Russia highlights the modernization of rocket and space technologies as a priority ^{[52, p. 117]}. However, one should only partially agree with this conclusion. In fact, it should be said that Russia is characterized by a broader system of priorities compared to Kazakhstan. And the development of remote sensing systems on a new technological basis continues to be one of the priorities, taking into account the increasing global competition in this segment.

In addition to agreeing on national priorities and programmes, it is equally important to agree on technical priorities. According to B. Chernukha, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the UP "Geoinformation Systems" of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, "currently, due to the territorial and organizational specifics in the EAEU countries, there are different accents and priorities in the needs and use of space information. Thus, the frequency of shooting is most relevant for Kazakhstan, while the resolution of 5 m images is sufficient. For Russia and Belarus, the accents are somewhat different – it is important to have the means for high-detail photography with a resolution of 0.35 m, high frequency should be for images with a two-meter resolution" ^[62]. It follows that the grouping being formed must coordinate the means to obtain high-detail and high-frequency shooting. Accordingly, it is necessary to coordinate the ground infrastructure aimed at facilitating the provision of geographic information necessary for users. Thus, a very relevant issue is the coordination of formats, methods and methods of providing information, as well as the creation of a single archive of DDZ systems.

Conclusion

The initiatives taken by the EAEU states in the field of the formation of an integrated DDZ system simultaneously mean a transition to a new level of development of both industrial and innovative, scientific and technological cooperation between enterprises of the space and geoinformation sphere. This will make it possible to achieve competitiveness in this segment of the global market, because it provides for the approval of a common space operator who will not only operate the OSG, but also promote services on the world market. At the same time, a practice of interaction will be formed, which can then be used in other formats of international cooperation in which the EAEU states participate. In particular, similar satellite systems providing remote sensing, communication and navigation can be created in the SCO and BRICS format.

In general, the Program corresponds to the plans set out in the direction No. 8 of the Strategic Directions for the Development of the Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025, which confirms the focus on the implementation of joint programs and high–tech projects agreed by the member states ^[63].At the same time, the attention of the Member States should be drawn to creating the conditions necessary for the effective and timely implementation of the program, which will include improving the conditions for joint scientific, industrial and technological activities. Moreover, it seems that the successful implementation of the program will create objective prerequisites for the possible inclusion of provisions on the legal regulation of cooperation, including scientific and technological, of the EAEU member States in the space sector in the Treaty on the Union.