EU unveils plan for unified space services market

The European Commission has proposed a new EU Space Act to create a unified and competitive single market for space services and data, in a move to strengthen Europe’s position in the rapidly growing global space sector.

The regulation, presented on Wednesday (25 June), seeks to streamline fragmented national rules, ensure fair competition, and protect EU space infrastructure, while offering targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises across the space industry.

“This fragmentation is bad for business, bad for competitiveness, bad for our future in space,” said EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, calling the initiative essential to securing Europe’s economic and strategic interests in space.

“The Space Act will allow us to grow in space. And growth in space means growth and jobs on Earth and in space,” he added.

The plan would apply to both EU and non-EU commercial operators, though it excludes military space activities.

The move comes as Europe faces growing pressure to catch up with major players like the U.S. and China, which have scaled up both public and private investment in space technologies.

The global space economy, valued at €572 billion ($668 billion) in 2023, is forecast to nearly triple by 2035, potentially reaching €1.6 trillion ($1.87 trillion), according to the Commission.

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