Our investment in space and defence is strategic and long-term aiming at a sovereign and autonomous Europe.
On March 5 2024, the first-ever European Defence Industrial Strategy has been put forward with a clear, long-term vision to achieve defence industrial readiness in the European Union.
In a shifting geopolitical landscape, access to space data and services is more important than ever for the strategic autonomy of the European Union. Thanks to the EU Space Programme and its components, Galileo and EGNOS for satellite navigation, Copernicus for Earth observation, and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for monitoring activities in space, the EU is solidifying its position as a space power.
Investing in space and defence infrastructure with a long-term perspective
The first-ever European Defence Industrial Strategy has been put forward with a clear, long-term vision to achieve defence industrial readiness in the European Union. We need to have defence systems and equipment ready when they are needed and in the required quantities. The Strategy sets out several new actions to achieve this: encouraging EU countries to invest more, better, together, and European. This will be promoted thanks to new programmes to buy and work more easily together at the European level. Steps will also be taken to support research, boost investment and work on issues along supply chains. As part of this, an Office for Defence Innovation will open in Kyiv.
Furthermore, to ensure that space operations conducted within EU territory adhere to high standards, and to minimise risks and promote responsible behaviour, the EU is in the process of passing an EU Space Law. With a focus on safety, resilience, and sustainability, the new law will ensure a comprehensive approach to regulating EU space activities.
Moreover, by providing legal certainty and a clear regulatory framework, the law will likely encourage investment and innovation in the European space sector. Startups and established companies alike will benefit from a stable and predictable environment, fostering growth and competitiveness.
Overall, the EU Space Law will reinforce Europe's position as a space power, enhance the attractiveness of the EU single market for space-related activities, and contribute to shaping international norms and standards in space exploration and use.
Ensuring Europe’s access to space
In a shifting geopolitical landscape, access to space data and services is more important than ever for the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
Thanks to the EU Space Programme and its components, Galileo and EGNOS for satellite navigation, Copernicus for Earth observation, and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for monitoring activities in space, the EU is solidifying its position as a space power. Having deployed its own Earth observation and navigation systems, Europe has reduced its reliance on third parties and mitigated the risk of third party services being switched off or degraded.
As secured and uninterrupted satellite communications are essential for governmental and private actors, DG DEFIS has taken the bold step of developing IRIS2. Thanks to both IRIS2 and the European Union Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme, which will provide secure communications capabilities to security and safety critical missions, the EU will offer enhanced communication capacities to governmental users and businesses.
Continuous and secured space data and services for all
To enable Europeans to have access to over 26 terabytes of Copernicus data and continuous, secured satellite navigation services, the European Commission implements the EU Space Programme with the support trusted partners.
The Prague-based EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) ensures seamless provision of Galileo and EGNOS services and protects the services from malicious attacks. In addition, the agency promotes the commercialisation of Copernicus data across various sectors of our economy.
In the same spirit, European and international organisations (Copernicus Entrusted Entities) work relentlessly to provide a broad range of Copernicus Services to end users.
All these organisations are staffed with scientific experts and vetted professionals in the fields of satellite navigation and Earth observation, among others.