#EUSpace and Defence industry to support the Belgian Presidency priorities

After six months at the helm of the EU, Spain passed on the baton of the EU Council Presidency to Belgium, which will preside until the end of June 2024. Belgium began a new cycle and will work as a trio with Hungary in the second half of 2024 and Poland in the first half of 2025. Earlier in December 2023, Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo presented the six political priorities of the EU Council, which will guide the Presidency's legislative work.

As space and defence go hand in hand with many of the priorities, we present you some ways DG DEFIS supports the work of the current presidency. Let’s dive right in!

Pursuing a green and just transition with help from above!

In line with the EU Green Deal, the Presidency has placed the energy and climate transition at the heart of its priorities. To achieve its goal of becoming climate neutral, the EU has put its energy sector on a more sustainable path. This involves a significant increase in the share of renewables, such as wind and solar power, in final energy consumption. This is where the EU Space Programme comes into play. Data and services from both Copernicus and Galileo directly contribute to improving the Union’s energy mix.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) combines satellite observations and numerical models to generate authoritative time series on solar radiation activity both in Europe and across the globe. These time series allow solar plant managers and policymakers to make informed decisions based on cost-benefit assessments when planning both large solar power farms and smaller-scale rooftop installations, and to take steps to maximise outputs from this infrastructure after it is installed.

The transition to green energy relies on intelligent grid systems capable of managing the complexities associated with renewables. As smart grids require high-precision timing and synchronization, Galileo and its new Open Service Navigation Message Authentication  (OSNMA) can help too! Not only does Galileo offer grid operators increased accuracy and robustness, but thanks to the forthcoming OSNMA, it will also add an extra layer of protection against spoofing attacks.

Have a look at this: Repowering the EU from Space

With over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic floating around the oceans and washing up onto beaches and coastal areas, drastic measures need to be taken to mitigate the deadly consequences for seabirds, fish and marine animals.  Thanks to initiatives like the CASSINI Challenges for digital space applications, we now have a range of innovative, space-based solutions to detect, monitor and remove microplastics and other litter from our oceans and waterways. Three solutions funded by CASSINI Challenges leverage Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) and Galileo data to fish microplastics out of our oceans.

Protecting EU citizens and borders and defending autonomy

Space capabilities, be it communications, satellite navigation or Earth Observation are a cost-efficient way for the Union to manage security incidents and ensure the well-being of its citizens. Many of the already operational services contribute to the safety and security of both the Union’s borders and its people.

Thanks to the Copernicus Maritime Surveillance Service national authorities can monitor activities at sea, within a wide range of operational functions such as maritime safety, maritime security, customs, and law enforcement. Coupled with the Copernicus Border Surveillance service, decision-makers acquire near real-time data on what is happening on land and at sea around the EU borders.

Soon, the European Commission (DG DEFIS) will launch a new Galileo service called Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). This new service will utilise Galileo’s messaging function to transmit an alert to smartphones with instructions to follow depending on the area the user is located at. The service is not based on mobile networks so it can reach any smartphone (with a Galileo chipset). This new service will be especially helpful to people living in rural regions with poor mobile signals and it will be available during a disaster that affects the ground network infrastructure.

EWSS is not Galileo’s only emergency service. The Galileo Search and Rescue Service (SAR) helps save lives in emergency situations when time is of the essence. COSPAS -SARSAT estimates that Galileo SAR helps save more than 2000 lives annually. 

But there is more, #EUSpace can do to protect our continent.

Satellite communications are a strategic asset for the Union and its Member States. Recent geopolitical tensions at the borders of our continent have highlighted the need for secure, robust, and rapidly deployable satellite communications capabilities.

To respond to this challenge, the European Commission introduced a new flagship programme for secure communications and high throughput connectivity called “IRIS²’’ or Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite. The new multi-orbital constellation will support -among others- governmental security actors such as police, border guards, firefighters, civilian and military crisis forces. It will also assist in response and peacekeeping missions, which may not be able to rely on the traditional networks or may be subject to cyber threats.

Safeguarding our citizens requires a more integrated approach in terms of defence and security. DG DEFIS recently launched a comprehensive consultation process with stakeholders aiming to deliver a European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS).

EDIS intends to boost the production of critical equipment but also to enhance European cooperation. The strategy looks to address -beyond ammunition- areas such as air defence, maritime space, and cyber among others. It will give further impulse to developing Member States’ defence capabilities, underpinned by a modern and resilient European defence technological and industrial base, establishing a strategic framework for the coming years.

Boosting Europe’s defence competitiveness and capacity

Considering the evolving geopolitical realities and the rapid development of new technologies the EU prioritises its long-term competitiveness and industrial policy especially in the area of defence.

To do so, DG DEFIS is currently implementing the Regulation on supporting ammunition production (ASAP). This act is a direct response to the Council’s call to urgently deliver ammunition, and if requested missiles, to Ukraine and to help Member States refill their stocks by introducing targeted measures. It aims at ensuring that the EU can ramp-up its production capacity.

Check this out: ‘’Ramping-up ammunition production’’

In the same spirit, EDIRPA will allow all Member States to jointly procure their much-needed defence products. It will avoid competition among Member States for the same products and facilitate cost savings, thus allowing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) to better adjust and ramp up its manufacturing capacities to deliver the needed products.

With nearly 8 billion euros for the period 2021-2027 the European Defence Fund promotes cooperation among companies and research actors of all sizes and geographic origin in the Union, in research and development of sophisticated and interoperable defence technology and equipment. The Fund supports competitive and collaborative projects throughout the entire cycle of research and development for a bigger impact on the European defence capability and industrial landscape. The 2022 EDF call saw 41 projects submitted, amounting to 832 million euros.

To further spur innovation across the Union, DG DEFIS recently launched the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) is a set of instruments enabled by the European Defence Fund (EDF) to strengthen defence innovation in the European Union.  One of these instruments will be EUDIS Hackathons. For the first time at the European Union level, defence hackathons will be organised across multiple locations in the Member States, aiming to design innovative solutions for the future.

An exciting year for the EU Space Programme and the EU Defence Industry is ahead of us. Stay tuned for relevant events and announcements!