In conclusions adopted on Tuesday 14 November, the EU Council welcomed the EU space strategy for security and defence presented in March 2023.
Supporting the strategy’s main areas of focus, the Council conclusions call for the EU’s understanding of space threats to be improved through a classified annual analysis of the landscape and the strengthening of military and civilian space security intelligence services.
In addition, the Member States are calling for an improvement in the resilience and protection of space systems and services, taking into account the Commission’s intention to propose a European space law, scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.
In addition, the Council believes it is necessary to respond better to space threats through information on knowledge of the space domain, a toolbox dedicated to joint EU responses and the continued development of exercises.
The EU and its Member States must guarantee autonomous, reliable, safe, cost-effective and competitive access to space, including for security and defence purposes, and to this end must have sufficient launch facilities in the EU, the conclusions state.
It also focuses on improving the use of space for security and defence purposes by better integrating the space dimension into the planning and conduct of Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, strengthening the EU Satellite Centre (EU SatCen) and developing space services for government use at EU level.
Finally, the Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to explore potential new areas of cooperation in the space sector.
See the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/9jn (Original version in French Camille-Cerise Gessant)