By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Italy will continue to chair
the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) after
Member States reached a consensus to appoint Ambassador Mario Cospito, Special
Commissioner of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), as Chair for the 2026–2027
biennium.
The appointment represents
recognition of Italy’s role and work in the strategic space sector, while
extending the country’s leadership of the UN committee responsible for
promoting international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space
for peaceful purposes.
Cospito succeeds Professor
Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, who was appointed Chair
during the 69th session of COPUOS held in Vienna in June. Valente subsequently
passed away prematurely.
COPUOS is based in Vienna
and is supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
Established in 1959, the committee promotes international cooperation in the
exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and currently comprises
110 Member States. Italy was among its founding members.
Cospito said Italy’s
confirmation represented an important opportunity for the country, Europe and
the Italian Space Agency, while describing his appointment as an honour and
responsibility to serve the international space community.
He said Italy and ASI would
continue the path established by Valente, focusing on building broad consensus
among the Member States so that outer space can continue to be regarded as a
common heritage of humanity.
According to Cospito,
developments in the space economy and the changing global geopolitical
landscape are reshaping the profile of space activities and creating new
challenges for international cooperation.
He said COPUOS would
therefore need to develop new responses and models of cooperation while
strengthening its role as a key forum for peaceful, safe and sustainable
activities in outer space in the interests of the international community.
The consensus behind the
continuation of Italy’s chairmanship followed coordinated efforts across the
Italian system. A key contribution came from Ambassador Debora Lepre, Permanent
Representative of Italy to the International Organizations in Vienna, and her
team, whose diplomatic efforts supported the appointment.
Italy’s continued leadership
of COPUOS places the country at the centre of ongoing international discussions
on the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of outer space during the 2026–2027
biennium.
