EU space act

Key points

The EESC:

• recommends structurally and immediately strengthening European public investment in space and increasing space investment to at least 0.2% of GDP by 2030;

• recommends clarifying how Article 114 of the Treaty can serve as the legal basis for the internal market for space-related products, services and data, and suggests stipulating that the provisions of the Space Act must be interpreted in light of the international obligations already accepted by the Member States;

• recommends clarifying why Title I refers solely to the criterion of Member State of establishment of the operator or third-country space operator, with no reference to the State of nationality, and recommends clarifying Article 6(3) to ensure better coordination with national space legislations identifying operators required to obtain authorisation on the basis of nationality or the territory from which space activity is conducted;

• recommends clarifying, in Title II, the functioning of derogations and flexibility in the authorisation process, specifying processing times, applicability to non-commercial missions, Commission inspection powers and the operational role of the European Space Agency and EUSPA;

• recommends defining precisely the limits within which Member States can impose stricter requirements concerning the free movement of space-based data and space services in the Union;

• highlights the need to strengthen mutual recognition and common rules to avoid fragmentation and bureaucratic obstacles;

• recommends linking the European Space Strategy to European strategic autonomy and encouraging complementary ecosystems and the multiplier effect of the space economy in support of specific sectors;

• recommends developing an integrated strategy for space skills and jobs and adopting a European Space Skills Agenda;

• calls for adequate resources for the operational reinforcement of EUSPA in the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034.