Macron warns of Europe’s “fragile” space sector as security concerns mount

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have called on EU countries to strengthen the bloc’s space industry amid a deteriorating security environment in the region.

Speaking on the second day of the international space summit co-hosted by France and Germany at Paris’ Grand Palais, Macron described Europe’s space sector as “fragile” and called for “shared governance” of the industry, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.

“Outer space remains the only major global commons that is not subject to regulations that match the stakes,” he noted. “Shared governance is necessary to address these challenges.”

Macron also reiterated that more than 51 agreements are expected to be signed during the summit, representing around €20 billion in investment, while outlining a series of future milestones for Europe’s space sector.

Von der Leyen, meanwhile, stressed the need for Europe to step up its efforts, highlighting the critical role of space not only in scientific exploration but also in defence, particularly in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“The ability to access and act in space not only underpins our prosperity, it increasingly determines our security and independence,” she emphasised.

Europe’s efforts to strengthen its military space capabilities have been driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as the bloc’s move to reduce its longstanding reliance on the United States in the space domain.

Ahead of the summit, several US companies reportedly withdrew from the event following pressure from Washington over their support for “EU policy positions.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada