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Commission welcomes the political agreement on the European Space Programme
The Commission welcomes the political agreement between the European Parliament and the EU Member States on the European Union Space Programme proposed by the Commission in June 2018. Trilogue negotiations have now concluded with the political agreement, pending the final approval of the legal texts by the European Parliament and the Council. The EU Space Programme will bring all existing and new space activities under the umbrella of a single programme.
Thanks to the financial envelope of €13.202 billion agreed by the co-legislators, the EU Space Programme will ensure the further development of the current European flagship programmes, Copernicus for earth observation and Galileo/EGNOS for satellite navigation. It will also enable the launching of European initiatives in satellite communication (GOVSATCOM) and on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for the protection of space infrastructure from space debris.
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, yesterday said:
"I welcome the political agreement on the European Union Space Programme. Europe is the 2nd space power in the world. But the global race is on. With this agreement, we now have the means to develop our leadership in space by consolidating our flagships – Galileo and Copernicus – and exploring new initiatives that will enhance Europe's resilience, notably in secure connectivity."
The investment under the EU Space Programme, combined with Horizon Europe and Invest EU, will support the European space industry, in contributing to the competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship, skills and capacity-building of primes, small and medium-size enterprises and start-ups and thus enhance the resilience of the EU.
The programme also puts great emphasis on the downstream sector, the market uptake and the exploitation of space data and services including to support the green and the digital transition.
Following this agreement, a vote will take place in the European Parliament and the Council to formally endorse the text. Since the partial agreement in 2019, the Commission has been preparing in order to start ensure its applicability as of in January 2021.
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