EU Space activities are the result of decades of foresight and an effort at integrating the various EU space flagships under one single umbrella. It supports the EU’s mission to:
- Address major challenges such as climate change and security
- Maintain Europe’s leadership in the global competition for cutting edge technology
- Boost the economic growth of Europe with new industries
Many of our everyday activities in Europe are possible thanks to EU-owned and managed space infrastructure such as our satellite navigation systems, Earth Observation satellites and sensors, and secured communications systems. These systems deliver space-based data and services, helping those who grow your food, work in urban planning, combat climate change, and provide assistance during natural and humanitarian disasters.
On top of this, the EU supports space businesses and the growth of the space economy with a €1 billion investment fund for space startups; the EU funds space research and innovation with over €1.5 billion in grants for space researchers and scientists; the EU safeguards critical technologies to ensure the European space industry always has access to needed resources and technologies; and the EU works to promote education and skills to ensure young people can enter and thrive in Europe’s growing space sector.
Dive in to learn all about these EU Space activities and opportunities!
Europe's Expanding Role in Space
Over the past two decades, the European Union (EU) has steadily expanded its role in space to ensure that Europe fully benefits from the data and services provided by space-based technologies. From satellite navigation to climate monitoring, EU space capabilities now touch nearly every aspect of daily life and global governance.
The European Space Policy
In 2007, the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA) released the European Space Policy, the first coordinated framework guiding Europe's space activities. This foundational document sought to:
- Strengthen coordination among European space actors
- Support strategic autonomy in space
- Align the EU's space endeavours with the Union's economic, environmental, and security goals
From Vision to Action: Galileo and Copernicus
Between 2007 and 2021, the EU's role in space grew significantly, with major components such as Galileo and Copernicus moving from developmental to operational phases.
Four Key Priorities for a Modern Space Ecosystem
In response to an evolving geopolitical and technological landscape, the European Commission (EC) published the Space Strategy for Europe in 2016. It focused on:
- Maximising societal and economic benefits from space activities
- Boosting European space industry competitiveness
- Reinforcing autonomous access to space
- Strengthening global leadership in space
The strategy ushered in flagship EU Space initiatives such as GOVSATCOM (secure governmental satellite communications) and expanded investments in Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
A unified legal and operational framework
The 2021 EU Space Regulation marked a major step in unifying Europe's various space initiatives. It officially created the EU Space Programme, bringing together all EU space components under one framework.
Establishing the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
The Regulation also established EUSPA, a user-oriented agency responsible for delivering secure and effective space-based services across the EU, strengthening the role of space in European citizens' everyday lives.
An EU Approach to Space Traffic Management (STM)
In 2022, the EU introduced its Approach for Space Traffic Management, addressing growing concerns over space debris and orbital congestion. Key goals included:
- Expanding SSA capabilities
- Promoting international norms of responsible behaviour in space
- Boosting Europe's global leadership in space safety
Strategic Compass for Security and Defence
In 2022, recognising space as a strategic domain for security, the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence called for a comprehensive EU strategy to safeguard its space assets and respond to emerging threats.
EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence
In 2023, the EU released its EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, aimed at:
- Defining a shared threat landscape
- Protecting European space infrastructure
- Enabling joint civil-defence response mechanisms
- Preventing the weaponisation of space through international norms
The EU Space Act: A Single Market for Space Activities
In June 2025, the EC introduced its proposal for an EU Space Act, a comprehensive legal framework designed to:
- Complement fragmented national space laws
- Promote safety, sustainability, and competitiveness
- Foster a single EU market for space-based services and technologies
A Forward-Looking Vision for the European Space Economy
Alongside the Space Act, the EU unveiled the Vision for the European Space Economy, which sought to:
- Position the EU as a global space leader by 2050
- Nurture emerging sectors like space mining and in-orbit manufacturing
- Support a resilient and innovative space ecosystem
To align growth with environmental sustainability, the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) initiative was launched to:
- Provide consistent metrics for measuring environmental impacts
- Develop standardised datasets for space-related environmental assessments
- Guide sustainable innovation across the EU space sector
Over the years, the EU's space policy has evolved from coordination to strategic leadership, with an increasingly integrated, sustainable, and secure EU Space Programme. Through cutting-edge initiatives, comprehensive regulation, and global cooperation, the EU is positioning itself as a key player in the 21st-century space economy, serving both European citizens and the global community alike.