EU space programme (2021–2027) – European Union Agency for the Space Programme

KEY POINTS

Objectives

The main objectives of the EU space programme are to:

• provide or contribute to the provision of uninterrupted, high-quality, up-to-date and, where appropriate, secure space-related data, information and services that can meet existing and future needs and support the EU’s political priorities;
• maximise socioeconomic benefits to enable growth and job creation and promote the widest possible uptake and use of the data, information and services provided by the programme’s components both within and outside the EU, while ensuring synergy and complementarity with the Horizon Europe programme (Regulation (EU) 2021/695 – see summary);
• enhance the safety and security of the EU and the EU Member States and reinforce EU autonomy, in particular in terms of technology;
• promote the EU’s role in the global space sector, encourage international cooperation, reinforce EU space diplomacy and strengthen its role in tackling global challenges, supporting global initiatives and raising awareness of space as a common heritage of humankind;
• enhance the safety, security and sustainability of all outer space activities concerning space objects and space debris proliferation, along with the space environment.

The regulation also sets out a number of specific objectives, including:

• to provide long-term, state-of-the-art and secure positioning, navigation and timing services, while ensuring service continuity and robustness, via Galileo and the European geostationary navigation overlay service;
• to deliver accurate and reliable Earth-observation data, information and services integrating other data sources on a long-term sustainable basis through Copernicus, in order to support the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the EU and its Member States’ policies and action based on user requirements;
• to enhance capabilities to monitor, track and identify space objects and space debris through space surveillance and awareness, including three subcomponents:
  • space objects surveillance and tracking,
  • space weather phenomena, and
  • near-Earth objects;
• to ensure the long-term availability of reliable, secure and cost-effective satellite communications services for users of the EU governmental satellite communications programme;
• to support an autonomous, secure and cost-efficient capability to access space, taking into account the essential security interests of the EU;
• to foster the development of a strong EU space economy by, among other things, reinforcing competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship, skills and capacity building in all Member States and EU regions, with particular regard to small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.

Governance

The regulation establishes EUSPA, which replaces and expands the European Agency for Global Navigation Satellite Systems. It also streamlines governance by assigning clear tasks to the various institutions and agencies involved:

• the European Commission (the institution mainly in charge of the programme);
• EUSPA (the operational manager of Galileo and the European geostationary navigation overlay service, and responsible for the security and development of downstream applications for all components of the space programme); and
• the European Space Agency (responsible for research and development).

Funding

• The programme runs for the period of the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework.
• It has a budget of €14.8 billion.
• The regulation lays down the forms of EU funding, the rules for granting such funding and the rules for implementing the programme.

Participation in the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Partnership

Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1245 lays down the rules and procedures for participation of the Member States in the SST Partnership. The SST Partnership referred to in Article 58(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 should take over the activities performed by the SST Consortium regarding the provision of SST services at the EU level, while ensuring a smooth transition and the continuity of services.

An SST system is a network of ground- and space-based sensors capable of surveying and tracking space objects, together with processing capabilities to provide data, information and services on space objects orbiting around the earth.