By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Europe is preparing to
strengthen its position as an autonomous, competitive and strategically capable
space power following the International Space Summit in Paris, with European
leaders and industry agreeing on the need for greater investment in space access,
exploration, security and industrial competitiveness.
European Space Agency (ESA)
Director General Josef Aschbacher said the two-day summit produced broad
support for raising Europe’s ambitions in space and developing a common
European approach to exploration and strategic space capabilities.
The summit brought together
European leaders, ministers, institutions, space companies and international
partners to discuss Europe’s future in space and the role of space
infrastructure in supporting security, resilience and economic prosperity.
Aschbacher said the meeting
marked an important step towards greater European autonomy in low Earth orbit,
a stronger role in lunar exploration and a more competitive European space
sector, while maintaining cooperation with international partners in exploration
and scientific activities.
The discussions build on the
Call to Boost European Space Exploration launched in Paris, which provides a
framework for strengthening Europe’s long-term exploration ambitions.
ESA will work with its
Member States over the coming months to provide analyses and programme
proposals to support decisions expected later this year.
The partnership between the
European Commission, ESA, Member States and European industry has already
produced major programmes including Galileo, Copernicus and IRIS². Aschbacher
said Europe now needs to build on those achievements and take the next step in
strengthening its collective space capabilities.
Access to space was a major
focus of the summit, alongside exploration and the growing importance of space
for European security, resilience and prosperity.
Aschbacher also stressed
that international cooperation remains central to ESA’s work, highlighting the
importance of partnerships in advancing space exploration, science, innovation
and the peaceful use of outer space.
He thanked French President
Emmanuel Macron and France for hosting the summit, as well as European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commissioner for Defence
and Space Andrius Kubilius and French Minister Philippe Baptiste for their contributions
to the discussions.
