EU space policy

The European Union (EU) space policy tackles some of the most pressing challenges today, such as fighting climate change, stimulating technological innovation and providing socio-economic benefits to citizens. Space technology, data and services have become indispensable to the lives of EU citizens.

The EU space policy addresses many of the EU’s political priorities, such as:

delivering the European Green Deal;
making Europe fit for the digital age;
supporting the European way of life;
building a stronger Europe in the world.

The EU space policy encompasses the EU space programme and synergies with the EU space research and innovation initiatives (Horizon EU), such as competitiveness for space systems and access to space. The latter initiative is based on the strategic research and innovation agenda for EU-funded space research supporting competitiveness and InvestEU. The EU space policy will promote the emergence of an EU new space ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship and to promote the EU space industry (see the Cassini space entrepreneurship initiative and the action plan on synergies between civil, defence and space industries).

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) defines the EU’s role in space policy under Article 4 and Article 189. In particular, the TFEU gives the EU the powers to draw up an EU space policy and develop measures to implement it in the form of an EU space programme.

The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021–2027 includes the regulation establishing the EU space programme and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and allocates €14.88 billion for its implementation.