A space revolution is under way. The 21st century will be the century of space. Space is about innovation, prosperity and security. From climate monitoring to secure communications, from agriculture to disaster response, space underpins every aspect of modern life. Europe stands at a turning point ready to embark on this extraordinary journey for autonomy, resilience and competitiveness.
In this journey we are stronger together: European solutions bring more value than fragmented ones. This is why the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) are working hand in hand to synchronize efforts and combine their strengths. Our shared objective is simple yet powerful: to turn Europe’s collective efforts into tangible benefits for its citizens and businesses.
ESA’s Ministerial proposal and the European Commission’s present and future initiatives are complementary pillars of a shared endeavour towards a European agenda for space, aiming to increase Europe’s sustainability, competitiveness, innovation, and resilience.
Why does this matter? European cooperation delivers scale, speed, and strength. ESA and the European Commission have already proven this with Galileo for navigation and Copernicus for Earth observation – world-renowned flagship space systems providing benefits to the entire continent. The new European flagship initiative for secure connectivity, IRIS² will be next. Europe now needs to deliver on an ambitious 2030 agenda to complete and ramp up its space capabilities in an integrated and accelerated approach.
Our approach is pragmatic and long-term in scope:
Pooling and sharing capabilities to guarantee a strong economy of scale so that together we can have more.
Leveraging industry innovation to attract and retain skills and jobs in Europe and to deliver fast.
Building interoperability and security by design, ensuring systems work together seamlessly.
In short, this entails complementing national activities by creating a cooperative space layer that amplifies national efforts and guarantees autonomy for Europe as a whole.
The stakes are high. Global competition is accelerating, and Europe cannot afford to fall behind. The European Commission and ESA act in synch to deliver efficiency, resilience, and leadership for all Europeans.
The ESA Ministerial Council 2025 (CM25), taking place today and tomorrow, is a key milestone and a moment to demonstrate that Europe is united and ready to act. It is the start of a space marathon of budgetary and political milestones with the next European Union Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and ESA’s Ministerial Council 2028, set to shape Europe’s long-term space ambitions all the way through the next decade.
We need to think big, dream big and work together as Europeans. Together, we can transform space into a driver of security, sustainability, and economic growth.
Andrius Kubilius is European Commissioner for Defence and Space and Dr. Josef Aschbacher is Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA)