I am very happy to welcome you all to the 1st Implementation Dialogue on Space.
Let me first start by saying: its very symbolic to have this meeting on the morning after another successful European launch of a Copernicus Mission on an Ariane 6 rocket.
A reminder of what we are capable of when we work together.
I would like to congratulate all of the space community.
Let this success inspire us, in our work today.
But - back to our agenda!
It is a great opportunity to have you all here today, to exchange views and actively shape Europes future space ambitions.
The growing geopolitical tensions are challenging our continent in unprecedented ways.
Investing in our resilience and autonomy is more crucial than ever.
Europes leadership in space is a strategic necessity. Space assets are critical for the achievement of the EU priorities, in particular, for security and defence.
The dual-use nature of space-based services of our flagships Galileo & EGNOS, Copernicus, and soon IRIS2, reinforce our resilience and preparedness. Space Surveillance and Tracking services help us to protect our space infrastructures.
The Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, proposed last month by the Commission, and supported by the Council, laid out a clear vision: to ensure that Europe can respond rapidly and effectively to emerging threats, through stronger industrial cooperation, technological innovation and enhanced readiness. And with the clear message - space is very important for defence, that is why we need a flagship defence project - “Space defence shield” - one the four most important flagships the for defence of Europe.
In recent years, we have achieved extraordinary progress under the Union Space Programme - a programme that has consolidated Europes position as a global space power.
The Interim Evaluation of the Programme, published in 2024, confirmed its effectiveness, relevance and European added value. But it also reminded us that our work is far from over.
We have learned valuable lessons: the need for autonomous access to space, the urgency to simplify and accelerate infrastructure deployment, to streamline procurement and to boost the commercial uptake of space data and services.
We stand today at an important juncture. With two years left for the implementation of the current Union Space Programme, and with the ongoing deployment of IRIS2 our secure connectivity constellation, we must ensure continuity and ambition beyond 2027.
A couple of months ago, the European Commission issued a strategic package that will impact the EU space sector in general and shape the future of EU space policy: the Communication “A Vision for the European Space Economy”, which was published in June 2025 and the Commission proposals for the EU Space Act, also in June this year.
This Vision, together with our proposal for the EU Space Act, sets a bold course for the future - one that will position Europe as a global leader in the space economy by 2050.
Our goal is clear: to close the gap between infrastructure investment and commercial service delivery, to strengthen Europes technological sovereignty, and to make space an engine of competitiveness, resilience, and security for our Union.
The Commission presented in July the European Competitiveness Fund that includes a specific policy window for space and defence, ensuring continuation of space activities beyond 2027. At the same time, ESA is approaching its Council Ministerial, at the end of the month.
The proposed European Competitiveness Fund will help guarantee that continuity, enhancing the Unions capability to act with agility and flexibility.
But success will depend on our coordinated collective action, and that is precisely why we are here today. This Implementation Dialogue is not about repeating what we already know. It is about identifying how we can do better — how we can make Europes space policy not only visionary but also executable, efficient and future-proof.
Our discussions today will focus on three central themes:
First, how to enhance the development of sovereign, competitive, and independent satellites, launch capabilities and ground infrastructures that respond effectively to current and future user needs, including for security and defence.
Second, how to reinforce Europes technological sovereignty and economic security, securing access to critical components and technologies, and reducing dependencies that could expose us to strategic vulnerabilities.
Third, how to boost the uptake of space data and services, ensuring that Europes investments in Copernicus, Galileo, and IRIS2 translate into economic opportunities, innovation, and societal benefits across every sector of our economy.
These are not abstract challenges. They are central to the future of our Union. They affect how Europe responds to global competition, how we protect our critical infrastructure, how we address climate change, ensure security and foster innovation.
Our approach will continue to be collaborative. The European Commission does not act in isolation — it acts with you. That is why I am deeply grateful to see so many of you here today: industry leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers. Your expertise and your feedback will help us shape the next generation of the Union Space Policy.
As we exchange views, let us be bold, honest, and practical. Let us identify what works, what could be improved, and what we can do together to make Europe a true space economy — sovereign, sustainable and globally competitive.
The future of Europes space policy depends on our capacity to bridge the gap between policy ambition and implementation reality. This dialogue is a crucial step in that direction.
I look forward to a fruitful discussion and to hearing your insights on how we can together make the European space policy simpler, faster, and more resilient and competitive.
Thank you.
