European space policy

The European Space Policy Institute is holding its 20th Annual Conference in Vienna, focused on defining Europe's role in space. The event brings policymakers and industry figures together to debate the continent's strategic direction amid growing global competition in space activities.

Germany is discussing a proposed €35 billion commitment to space, with the question raised of whether the country is entering a new space era. Klaus-Peter Willsch is associated with the debate at the European Space Policy Institute's Academic Conference 2026. Observers are watching whether the funding marks a strategic shift for Germany in European space policy.

Former Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister Étienne Schneider argued at the ESPI Autumn Conference 2026 that Europe needs its own legal framework for space resources. He said the continent risks falling behind the United States and other spacefaring nations, which have already enacted national legislation granting rights over materials extracted from asteroids and the Moon, unless EU-level rules are put in place.

At the ESPI Autumn Conference 2026, Ricardo Conde, president of the Portuguese Space Agency, addressed Europe's future in space under the pointed slogan "The Moon Is Not Yours. It's Ours." The remarks frame European ambitions around lunar exploration and space policy at a moment when access to the Moon is increasingly contested among global powers.

Dr. Bianca Lins discussed Liechtenstein's position in European space affairs at the ESPI Autumn Conference 2026, presenting trust as a national asset for the small state. The talk argued that credibility and reliability can serve as strategic resources for a country with limited space infrastructure but a strong reputation in international cooperation and policy discussions.

Prof. Anu Ojha spoke at the ESPI Autumn Conference 2026 about the importance of awe and wonder in communicating space to the public, arguing the sector needs better storytellers. His remarks are drawing attention among space policy and communication professionals following the European Space Policy Institute event.

Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner responsible for Defence and Space, is drawing attention in news coverage. The Lithuanian former prime minister oversees the EU's push to strengthen its defence industry and space policy at a time of heightened security concerns in Europe. Attention appears driven by ongoing debates over European defence capabilities and funding.

SpaceWatch.GLOBAL has published an opinion piece titled 'Quo Vadis, Europa? – A Critique of the Moment in an Age of Missing Orders'. The commentary takes a critical look at Europe's current trajectory, arguing that the continent faces a moment of strategic drift at a time when international order and leadership are weakening, with implications for European space policy and governance.

Spain's Indra and Germany's OHB have signed contracts worth €2.6 billion for the European Union's satellite programme, with Elon Musk's SpaceX shut out of the deal. The awards mark a major step in Europe's push to build independent space infrastructure and reduce reliance on American providers, prompting debate over the exclusion of SpaceX and the broader geopolitics of EU space policy.

The United States has issued strongly worded warnings to the European Union over proposed restrictions affecting the technology and satellite markets. The warnings signal growing transatlantic friction over regulation of the tech and space sectors, with Washington pressing Brussels against measures that could limit American firms' access to European markets. The dispute adds to ongoing tensions between the two allies over trade and digital policy.

The European Union is reworking its Arctic policy, placing greater emphasis on security and defence amid growing geopolitical threats in the polar region. Rising strategic competition, including concern over Russia's military presence and the widening access caused by melting ice, is pushing Brussels to treat the far north less as a purely environmental and economic space and more as a security priority.

European governments want to reduce their dependence on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, but many are reluctant to hand more control over space and communications policy to Brussels. The tension highlights a wider split in the EU: member states agree on the need for strategic autonomy in satellite internet, yet disagree on whether the European Commission should lead the effort.