EU Parliament approves update of the EU’s space programme

• €14.8 billion programme for the 2021-2027 period
• Will support navigation, earth observation and civil protection projects
• Aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and security

The 2021-2027 EU space programme, adopted by Parliament on Tuesday evening, will fund projects that provide high-quality space-related data as well as services with key socio-economic benefits and potential to create jobs. It also aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, its security and its role in the space sector.

The bulk of the €14.8 billion budget will be allocated to Galileo and EGNOS, the EU’s global and regional satellite navigation systems, as well as Copernicus, the EU’s Earth Observation programme.

The programme will also finance space security, such as the Space and Situational Awareness (SSA) programme and the new Governmental Satellite Communication initiative (GOVSATCOM) to support border protection, civil protection and humanitarian interventions.

The programme upgrades the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Agency by expanding its tasks and transforming it into the new EU Agency for the Space Programme.

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“With an ambitious budget of 14.8 billions euros and a clear governance, the new Space Programme sets the legal framework to foster innovation, to boost the EU industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy and to secure our technological leadership at global level” said rapporteur Massimiliano Salini (EPP, IT). “As demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the application of space technologies can be fundamental for the implementation of public policies and in controlling the outbreak through monitoring and tracking services. By creating the conditions for the development of the space upstream and downstream markets, the EU Space economy will play a pivotal role in the recovery of our Union.” he added.

Background

On 6 June 2018, the European Commission presented the new Space Programme. It aims to ensure investment continuity in EU space activities, encourage scientific and technical progress, and support the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the European space industry.

On 10 November 2020, the European Parliament and German Presidency of the Council had reached a political agreement on the 2021-2027 Multi-annual Financial Framework and new own resources, followed by an agreement on the Space Programme on the 16th of December. On the 19th of April, the Council adopted its first reading position. The text is now endorsed by Parliament in early second reading. It will enter into force retroactively on 1 January 2021.