European Union Space Services Agency

Background

In April 2026, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation on the European Union Space Services Agency. 

The proposal aims to provide the current European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) with a specific legal basis beyond the 2021-2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). It includes new provisions on the agency’s governance and tasks. EUSPAwould now change name and play a key role in dealing with the 2028-2034 EU Space Systems and Space Policy Implementation, as part of the European Competitiveness Fund.

Established in 2004, EUSPA’s current mission is to implement the EU Space Programme and manage European flagship systems such as the satellite navigation system Galileo, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and the Earth monitoring network Copernicus.

With the proposed regulation, the EU reaffirms its role as a global leader in space and reinforces its position by strengthening infrastructure and capabilities for civil and defence use.

Key points

The EESC:

• emphasises that satellite Position, Navigation and Timing services together with Earth Observation services, are vital assets for the EU single market;
• supports the introduction of 24/7 operational and crisis-management mechanisms to protect EU space assets against hybrid, cyber and space weather threats. However, such measures must strictly uphold EU labour standards and working time rules;
• underlines the importance of the strict structural independence of the Security Accreditation Board within the Agency and views with caution the proposed three-month tacit approval mechanism to prevent procedural deadlocks, insisting it must not compromise technical safety or the independence of accreditation decisions;

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/887

Opinion type: Optional

Rapporteur: Miroslav Hajnoš (Group II - Slovakia)

Date of adoption by section: 24 June 2026

Result of the vote: 76 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 15-16 July 2026

Result of the vote: 218 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903

E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu 

Giorgia Bordignon

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 8535

E-mail: giorgiaandrea.bordignon@eesc.europa.eu