Over the past decade, space has gained increasing importance as an economic sector offering opportunities for established and emerging markets. Space policies and their applications have also gained in political relevance due to their capacity to tackle global challenges, such as the climate and biodiversity crises, but also due to the growing reliance of the EU economy and society on space infrastructure, services and data. This briefing focuses on the state of play in regard to the EU's space economy, while also examining the EU's reliance on space services. Specifically, it highlights the relevance of the EU in the global space market and looks at the ways the EU could boost its use of space data and services to deliver on its main political priorities.

EPRS policy podcast - EU space policy: Boosting EU competitiveness and accelerating the twin ecological and digital transition

<p>In 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.</p>

<p>The 14.8 billion euro programme should improve flagship initiatives such as Galileo, Copernicus and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). The 2021-2027 EU space programme 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. With more than 30 satellites currently in orbit and over 25 planned for the next 10 to 15 years, the EU is the largest institutional customer for launch services in Europe. According to the European Commission, the strategic importance of the space sector for the Union has increased, as has the need for the European space sector to adapt to the changing global environment. Space technology, data and services have become indispensable to the daily lives of the public and to the EU's strategic interests. Space can play a crucial role in tackling new challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, border control, maritime surveillance and security.</p>

EU space programme

EP Plenary session - Strategic Compass and EU space-based defence capabilities

Video call between Roberta METSOLA, EP President and astronaut Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, next Commander of the International Space Station

A model of a rocket located in the Space campus near Kiruna city in Lappland region, Sweden.

Space campus near Kiruna city in Lappland region, Sweden - EU Space programme

4th EU Aeronautics Conference

Exchange with Italian astronaut Samantha CRISTOFORETTI followed by the viewing of the documentary 'Astrosamantha, the Space Record Woman'

During her official visit to Italy, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament pays a visit to the Aerospace District of Piemonte in Turin to highlight the strategic importance of the aerospace sector for Europe. She visits Thales Alenia Space, the Mockup Lunar Module and the Altec Martian Terrain

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Italy - Tour around the Aerospace District Piemonte in Turin (Italy): extracts

Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, Astronaut / International Space Station Commander and Josef ASCHBACHER, ESA Director General make a statement on the cooperation of the EU and European Space Agency and the gender equality in the context of Space program. Samantha CRISTOFORETTI is in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, on the occassion of the Internatinal Women's Day celebration.

Gender balance / EU - ESA Cooperation: Statement by Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, ISS Commander and Josef ASCHBACHER, ESA Director General

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Josef ASCHBACHER, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) hold a press point in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check it against delivery.

ESA-ITRE press point by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) by Josef ASCHBACHER, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and by Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, Commander of th

MEPs debate an EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge. Oral question to the Commission, with resolution. Closing statements by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture.

An EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge: closing statement by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture

MEPs debate an EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge. Oral question to the Commission, with resolution.

An EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge: MEPs debate

MEPs debate an EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge. Oral question to the Commission, with resolution. Opening statements by Marian-Jean MARINESCU (EPP, RO), Author and by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture.

An EU approach for Space Traffic management - an EU contribution addressing a global challenge: opening statements by Marian-Jean MARINESCU (EPP, RO), Author and by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture

&lt;p>President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola exchanges with the astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, the first European woman to be the Commander of the International Space Station. She intervenes from the ISS, the large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. This transcript is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.&lt;/p>

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: extracts from the debate (27/04) and from the vote. Statements by Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), Rapporteur, Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), Carlos ZORRINHO (S&D, PT), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR) and Niklas NIENASS (Greens/EFA, DE).

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: extracts from the debate (27/04) - extracts from the Lex signing ceremony

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme. Closing statement by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market.

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: closing statement by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme. Opening statements by Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), rapporteur and by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market.

Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme: opening statements by Massimiliano SALINI (EPP, IT), rapporteur and by Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market

This infoclip illustrates the EU space programme. Footage from Kiruna, Sweden. The footage shows RIT2021, a regional EU project in the space industry aiming to enhance Norrbottens role as Sweden’s leading space region by way of pairing acedemia, the business sector and actors within the innovation support system at the Space Campus in Kiruna, Sweden. Esrange Space Center is an important node in European satellite communications and supports many important satellite programs for Europe. It is involved in Horizon Europe mainly in rocket testing and rocket reusability, which is facilitated by its location 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. From 05:05: Copyright: SSC, Swedish Space Corporation - Terms and Conditions).

Infoclip: Space programmes in the EU – Sweden

David SASSOLI, EP President, made the opening speech of the Space, Security and Defence in Naples (Italy). He speaks about the challenges for the European Union, about the budget for the next 7 years and about the achievements that the EU has reached in the recent years concerning space missions.

Space, Security and Defence; the next challenges for European industry: extracts from the opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

David SASSOLI, EP President, makes a closing statement on the next challenges for European industry. Extracts from the closing statement.

Space, Security and Defence; the next challenges for European industry: extracts from the closing statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Antonio TAJANI, EP President delivers a speech at 4th EU Aeronautics Conference, organised in Brussels by the European Parliament’s Sky and Space Intergroup with the support of ASD Europe.

Speech by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, at 4th EU Aeronautics Conference: extracts

Antonio TAJANI, EP President opens the Space event with Thomas PESQUET, European Space Agency astronaut, in the EP in Brussels.

Space event with Thomas PESQUET, European Space Agency astronaut: introductory statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

This infoclip illustrates the Galileo and EGNOS satellite navigation programmes which provide positioning, navigation, and timing information worldwide; the Copernicus Earth observation programme which provides Earth observation data and information. In addition, the Horizon 2020 programme also focuses on research into space technologies, applications, and other space related topics. With thanks for the provision of archive material to the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European GNSS Agency (GNA). Use for information and communication purposes only.

Infoclip: EU Space Programmes

A conference about A new Space Policy for Europe takes place in European Parliament in Brussels.

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