On Wednesday 11 February, Member States’ ambassadors to the EU will be asked to give their consent for the EU Council to approve, without discussion, the agreements between the EU and Iceland, on the one hand, and the EU and Norway, on the other, laying down the rules for the participation of these countries in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union’s space programme and in the Union’s secure connectivity programme. The agreements also set out the terms and conditions for access to GOVSATCOM services and government services under the EU’s secure connectivity programme.
“From a geopolitical point of view”, the participation of Iceland and Norway “will contribute to strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor [...] and will also promote international cooperation as defined in the Space Strategy for Europe”, emphasise the Council decisions. An agreement with Iceland and Norway will strengthen the Union’s strategic position, “which is an objective of the European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence”.
Both countries have a long history of cooperation with the EU in the space sector, and are involved in most of the components of the EU’s space programme. Norway is also a member of the European Space Agency.
Negotiations for the agreements were concluded with Norway in April 2025 and with Iceland in June 2025. The two countries have had agreements on security procedures for the exchange of classified information for several years.
The European Parliament will also have to give its consent.
See the agreements: https://aeur.eu/f/kn4 ; https://aeur.eu/f/kn3 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)