In the current geopolitical context of increasing power competition and intensifying threats, the European Union is taking action to protect its space assets, defend its interests, deter hostile activities in space, and strengthen its strategic posture and autonomy.
For the first time, the Commission and the High Representative have developed a Joint Communication on a European Space Strategy for Security and Defence.
The Strategy is a direct implementation of the EU Strategic Compass adopted less than a year ago and which defined space, together with cyber and maritime, as contested strategic domains, the security of which must be ensured. It provides for a set of actions covering the following strands.
A shared understanding of space threats
The Strategy outlines the counter space capabilities and main threats in space that put space systems and their ground infrastructure at risk, building on a common definition of the space domain. To increase the common understanding of threats across Member States, the High Representative will prepare a classified annual space threat landscape analysis at the EU level, drawing on Member States’ intelligence.
Resilience and protection of space systems & services in the EU
The Strategy proposes strengthening the resilience and protection of space systems and services in the EU. For this purpose, the Commission will:
- Consider proposing an EU Space Law to provide a common framework for security, safety, and sustainability in space that would ensure a consistent and EU-wide approach.
- Set up an Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) to raise awareness and facilitate the exchange of best practices among commercial and relevant public entities on resilience measures for space capabilities.
- Launch preparatory work to ensure long-term EU autonomous access to space, addressing, in particular, the security and defense needs.
- Enhance the technological sovereignty of the EU by reducing strategic dependencies and ensuring the security of supply for space and defense in close coordination with the European Defence Agency and the European Space Agency.
Additionally, there is a plan to expand the existing space threat response mechanism, already in use for Galileo, to all space systems and services in the EU. The Strategy also proposes appropriate access to space domain awareness information through relevant national space commands to characterize inappropriate behaviors in orbit and protect EU assets.
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Governmental service for Earth Observation (EO)
The Strategy also purports to launch two pilots. As a result, the first will be to deliver initial space domain awareness services building upon the capacities of Member States.
The other will be for a new EO governmental service as part of the evolution of Copernicus and complementing existing assets.
Space-based EO is a key enabler for security and defense, as proven by the EU Satellite Centre in the context of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
Though Copernicus delivers security services, it has not been designed to comply specifically with defense requirements. An EU Earth Observation governmental system would benefit from reliable, resilient, and continuously available situational awareness to support the EU’s and its Member States’ autonomous decision-making and action. As part of the evolution of Copernicus, an initial service will be put in place by the end of 2024.
The Strategy proposes exploring options allowing the EU to complement existing national, commercial, and European satellite imagery infrastructure.
Benefits to SMEs and start-ups
The Commission will incentivize collaborative work between space and defense start-ups and SMEs. Activities such as hackathons, challenges and matchmakings, In-Orbit-Validation, and Demonstration will be synergized to foster cooperation between space and defense start-ups.
Speaking on the Strategy, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said, “For the first time, we are putting forward a strategy that will pull together all our tools to protect EU space assets and ensure that everyone can benefit from space services.”
While the Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, commented: “Space plays a vital role in both our economic and security interests, but it is also an increasingly contested arena with competing interests vying for dominance. The EU’s new strategy marks a paradigm shift, aimed at bolstering our resilience in and from space. It bridges the gap between space and defense, breaking down silos and strengthening our flagship programs in space for security and defense purposes.”
