The business of space and the strategic role of Esa

continue to grow, driven by the development of dual-use technologies and increasingly integrated industrial models with terrestrial markets. Security has become increasingly important: for the third year running, defence budgets have exceeded civil budgets, signalling how space is now perceived by governments as a strategic area on a par with land, sea, air and cyberspace.

Alongside this investment dynamic, the space scene is becoming increasingly crowded, competitive and politically articulated. More than 100 countries on four continents will have operated at least one satellite by 2023. There are currently 77 national space agencies worldwide, 16 of which have launch capabilities. Emerging countries in Asia and the Middle East are intensifying their participation, contributing to an increasingly global space landscape.

This April also saw the inauguration of the African Space Agency (AfSA), an initiative of the Union

African 55 members to coordinate existing efforts in the African space field and

to realise the continent's space ambitions.

In this framework, Europe occupies an important position. Its model of spatial governance

revolves around the European Space Agency (ESA), an intergovernmental organisation consisting of 23

Member States, formally external to the European Union but closely interconnected with it.

This institutional architecture, unique in the global landscape, allows Europe to combine

long-term stability, pan-European industrial cooperation and technological excellence,

even in the presence of a plurality of national interests.

ESA plays a central role not only as the technical executor of large space programmes

europe, but also as a factor of strategic integration between Member States. Through its

programmes and its intergovernmental decision-making mechanisms, the Agency contributes to the definition of

common technological standards, promotes the strengthening of European industrial supply chains and offers a

platform for collective representation in an increasingly competitive geopolitical environment. Systems such as Galileo, Copernicus and EGNOS have demonstrated Europe's ability to develop and manage space infrastructures on a global scale, with a direct impact on the continent's economy, security and technological sovereignty.

The ESA Ministerial in November 2025 marked a crucial step in this trajectory. The record level of financial commitments of EUR 22.3 billion - an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to the 2022 Ministerial - signals a renewed confidence of Member States in the role of ESA and the

its ability to play a central role in coordinating and implementing programmes on which to build the future. Beyond the quantitative dimension, this result reflects a shared political awareness: space is now considered an essential strategic infrastructure for sovereignty

technological, security and decision-making autonomy of Europe.

The ESA now operates with a record budget and a strengthened mandate, defined by the Member States, which broadens its concrete impact in supporting the development and competitiveness of the European space ecosystem.

One of the most notable outcomes was the launch of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) programme, which represents a substantial evolution of the European approach to space security, aiming to strengthen the resilience of Europe's critical infrastructures. The ambition is to develop shared capabilities in the areas of Earth observation, navigation and secure connectivity, integrating technologies and services into a common architecture to support institutions and Member States. The ERS programme is thus a first step towards strengthening European instruments for the protection, continuity and reliability of space infrastructures, in response to intensified global competition and the growing importance of preserving the viability of orbital assets.

At the Ministerial, the centrality of autonomous access to space was reaffirmed. The Space Transportation programme received the highest level of funding, confirming the strategic role of reliable and competitive launch capabilities in supporting European autonomy and the continuity of space activities. The introduction of the European Launchers Challenge also helps support a more diversified model by fostering the emergence of new industrial players and accompanying the evolution and expansion of a traditionally concentrated ecosystem.

The ESA is also increasingly redefining its international role. The

cooperation remains an identity element of the Agency, but it is now embedded within a

broader strategy of autonomy and diversification of partnerships. The strengthening of the

transatlantic with NASA continues to be a key pillar, particularly in the

human and scientific exploration programmes, but it is flanked by a targeted intensification of

relations with players such as India and Japan, with a view to complementarity

technology and long-term stability.

Overall, the ESA's role on the international scene today appears more defined, stronger and broader than in the past. While remaining faithful to the principle of peaceful use of space, the Agency is also asserting itself in supporting the development of dual-use capabilities and as a point of reference in defining technological standards and promoting a European model of space governance. In an increasingly articulated context, in which space is at once exploration, infrastructure, market and geopolitical asset, the ESA confirms itself as a reference through which Europe is committed to transforming scientific and industrial expertise into global strategic weight