European Union strengthens strategic space autonomy agenda

The EU Space Days 2026, hosted in Nicosia under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighted the integration of space policy into European security, competitiveness, and technological autonomy strategies.

Participants emphasized that space is no longer an isolated sector but a strategic infrastructure essential for defense, digital economy, and the resilience of critical infrastructure. To counter geopolitical tensions and hybrid threats, the EU is focusing on strengthening its strategic autonomy through complementary programs including Copernicus, Galileo, EU GOVSATCOM, EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST), and the upcoming IRIS² constellation.

Discussions also centered on the proposed EU Space Act, which aims to establish a more homogeneous regulatory framework for European space activities, focusing on security, sustainability, and resilience.