European Union flags outside of the EU headquarters Berlaymont building in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Kyle Wagaman, Creative Commons license
The European Commission released its proposal for the EU Space Act to create a single market for space activities in the EU and put new requirements on space operators regarding space sustainability and cybersecurity.
Europe currently has a patchwork of national regulatory approaches, the EC proposal explains. The Act aims to establish a common regulatory framework to reduce administrative burden on companies and create a common level playing field at the EU level.
The Act introduces rules for tracking space objects and mitigating space debris; cybersecurity requirements; and considerations for operators to assess and reduce the environmental impact of pace activities.
At this point, the EU Space Act is a proposal and it will go through the European Parliament and Council legislative process. The new rules will apply to both EU and non-EU operators providing space services in Europe, the EC said.
The EC released the Act on June 25 alongside a “Vision for the European Space Economy,” a new initiative to position the EU as a leader in the space economy. The vision focuses on creating a single market for space in Europe, supporting space commercialization, and a skilled workforce, among other priorities.
The Global Satellite Operator’s Association (GSOA) welcomed both the proposed EU Space Act and vision, saying in a statement the developments “acknowledge the strategic relevance of space infrastructure and services for Europe’s economic resilience, technological sovereignty, competitiveness and digital future.”
“As the EU advances its space agenda, it is essential to foster innovation, fair competition, and legal certainty across the space value chain. A coherent and proportionate regulatory framework, aligned with international obligations and cohesive across Member States, will be key to avoiding fragmentation of the internal market and preserving Europe’s global competitiveness while ensuring a level-playing field for all stakeholders,” GSOA said in a statement.