Speech by Commissioner Kubilius at the high level event “Europes Space Ambitions in the 2028+ EU Budget”

Thank you Senator Vogt for that introduction.

Thank you Mayor Bovenschulte for the  invitation to speak here.

Its a big honour. Because if Brussels is the capital of Europe, then Bremen is the Space capital of Europe. Germany is a leader in space. With a world class space industry. And a lot of that is thanks to Bremen.

If people land again on the moon, it will be thanks to Bremen. Because Bremens space industry builds the European Service Module for the Orion space craft, that aims to return people to the moon.

And the European Service Module is truly a European project – owned by the European Space Agency. Built by Airbus. With contributions from many different Member States.

Thanks to Bremen, we have the best space based navigation, and observation in the world, and soon - best connectivity. Because in Bremen you build our Galileo & Copernicus satellites and will be working on IRIS².

And also thanks to Bremen: Europe has independent access to space. Because in Bremen you are building the upper stages of the Ariane rocket. Of Ariane 5 and Ariane 6.

Weve had four successful Ariane launches last year.

Success, made in Bremen. Bremen helped restore our independent access to space.

Soon the Ariane 6-4 will launch, which has four boosters instead of two and twenty tonnes capacity instead of 10 – twice what is possible today.

So that is vitally important for our future in space. That we can send up twice as many satellites or bigger satellites.

Because when the space race is speeding up, we need to  catch up. And Bremen is helping us to catch up. 

I was in Bremen for the European Space Agency ministerial. I congratulate you for the excellent organisation.

And I am very happy that the ESA ministerial approved EUR 22.32 billion for space until the next MFF. Thats a 31 per cent increase in funding. This 22 billion euro is the bridge towards the next MFF, so that we can continue our work on space. Up to and beyond 2028.  

Work can continue on important programs.

• Like: Leo PNT, the precise navigation and timing our militaries need.
• Or the Earth Observation Governmental Service. A long term project for ultra fast and precise satellite observation, including space intelligence.
• And access to space – 70 per cent of the money approved goes to Ariane and Vega launches. Europe can continue launching more satellites. Essential for vital services and for our strategic independence. 

And this 22 billion shows the Member States have big ambitions for space.

Thats good news, because we need to be even more ambitious in the next MFF.

We proposed a five fold increase for defence and space spending for the next MFF - up to 131 billion euro. And a lot of that money will go to space.

First, to deliver on our flagships: Galileo for Navigation, Copernicus for observation, and to deliver IRIS²  , which will bring satellite Internet to all corners of Europe and the world.

Second, were introducing three new components into our space programme to help build a competitive space economy.

• Access to space.
• Space Commercialisation and Space Economy;
• Technological Sovereignty, Research and Innovation.

Under the next MFF we want our space systems to support both civil and defence goals, with a focus on dual use,i ncluding the monitoring of Radio Frequency Interference, important for both civilian and military transport. And Leo PNT and the Earth Observation Governmental Service, essential to monitor military activity and to support military action and exercises.

The Parliament loves our proposal. And now we hope the Council will love it too.

To end: I have told you the “what”, but not the “why”. Why do we need a significant increase in European  space spending?

First, for our strategic autonomy. We need our own independent European space capacities to deter and if need be counter Russian aggression. Without Space that is impossible, and no Member State alone can do this.

Second, for our competitiveness. As the Draghi report shows, space is a crucial sector we need for our economic place in the world, for jobs and for growth.

Third, because were at the start of a space revolution. The space economy will triple in size. Space will be everywhere.

And if we dont scale up our ambitions, we risk falling behind.

Europe has a space programme we can be really proud of - Galileo is the best satellite navigation in the world, Copernicus is the best observation, and IRIS² will provide the best Internet connection via satellite. But if we dont scale up our ambitions, or if Member States  focus instead on their own space programmes, Europe will fall behind. Fall behind our allies. And fall behind our enemies.

And this we cannot afford, in this dangerous world. So we need to be ambitious, and act united and invest in space as a European Union.

One thing is certain: We cant do it without Germany. And we cant do it without Bremen.

So I call on you, to support our ambitious MFF proposal.

So coming back to Bremen: the miracles of space engineering you produce are inspiring. And I want Bremen to continue to build these miracles, now and for future generations. 

Build even bigger and better. So the whole of Europe can be proud, prosperous and safe.