A strong Europe in a changing world
The international order is changing, and the EU must establish its place within a world defined by uncertainty, strategic and economic competition, and rising levels of conflict. But doing so will require that it be able to act in its own right.
“The world that secured our freedom and made us prosper can no longer be taken for granted,” says Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen. “Now more than ever, Europe needs to step up and stand together... to build an even stronger and a more secure Europe.”
Ready to build ‘a strong Europe in a changing world’ is the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Council presidency rotates among the EU Member States every six months. During this time, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping ensure the continuity of the EU’s work in the Council.
As the Danish presidency works towards a strong and resolute EU – one that takes responsibility for its own security and for strengthening its competitiveness – it is focused on two overarching priorities: a secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe.
“Our presidency will focus on security, open strategic autonomy and increased European competitiveness. Space and space technologies play a major role in strengthening all three areas, but we need a more competitive and diverse space sector. Europe is vulnerable, if we rely on a few large enterprises and for our own security’s sake, we must move towards dual-use by design. Last but not least, we need to address the increased traffic in space and proliferation of space debris. If we want to continue to be able to use space in the future, our use of space must be sustainable,” says Christina Egelund, Minister of Higher Education and Science of Denmark.
Priority 1: A secure Europe
Secure space
With reports suggesting that Europe must be able to defend itself by 2030, the Danish Presidency is committed to strengthening the EU’s resilience, robustness, and deterrence against complex and hybrid threats – including those coming from space or targeting the EU’s space assets.
With space quickly emerging as a new frontier in global conflict, the EU has made space a key component in its security and defence. In fact, this concept has been enshrined in the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, which aims to protect Europe’s space assets, defend its interests, deter hostile activities in space and strengthen its strategic posture and autonomy.
EUSPA plays a leading role in the implementation of the Strategy, work that includes co- facilitating the EU Space Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (EU Space ISAC), operating the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Front Desk, procuring the GOVSATCOM Hub, and helping ramp up IRIS2.
Secure borders
Knowing that the EU’s strength lies in its unity, the Danish Presidency will also take steps to prevent irregular migration from threatening European cohesion. Specifically, the Presidency will work on new and innovative solutions to control irregular migration and reduce arrivals into the EU.
In doing so, they can look towards GOVSATCOM, Europe’s Governmental Satellite Communications programme. This new component of the EU Space Programme will allow the EU to enhance surveillance, including border and maritime surveillance and the surveillance of illegal trafficking.
The Copernicus service for security applications also plays a border surveillance role. Its main objectives are to reduce the death toll of illegal immigrants arriving by sea while also increasing the EU’s internal security and mitigating cross-border crime. The service is operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and provides the external border surveillance information exchange network (EUROSUR) with near real time data on activity happening around the EU’s land and sea borders.
Secure infrastructure
Beyond its political security, the EU must also strengthen its economic security by improving its understanding of specific risks related to critical infrastructure and supply chains.
As to the former, secure satellite communication (SATCOM) is vital for critical infrastructure security, offering a crucial layer of resilience and redundancy for essential services. By providing reliable communication, even when terrestrial networks are compromised, secure SATCOM programmes enhance the security of sensitive data transmission and storage, particularly in areas like energy, finance, transportation, and emergency response.
EUSPA is also helping companies protect their supply chains from cyber-attacks. This work includes hosting the EU Space ISAC collaborative platform where EU companies from the space sector can work together to prevent, tackle and mitigate security-related challenges.
It also involves providing training opportunities to help companies become more cyber savvy. For example, its popular EU Space Academy Learning Platform now includes a dedicated security module. Called ‘Pressing Issues of the Security Sector’, this module explores the critical challenges shaping the future of space and security and provides practical tips on confronting today’s rapidly evolving security landscape.
Priority 2: A competitive and green Europe
Rising global competition calls for targeted joint and national action to boost the EU’s competitiveness. This includes reforms that improve conditions for businesses to grow and strengthen their prerequisites for innovating and investing in new technology, skills, production and jobs.
But this increase in competitiveness should not come at the expense of Europe’s climate ambitions. In fact, as the Danish Presidency points out, the green transition can and should drive growth, and climate and energy policies should continue to be closely linked to competitiveness policy.
Here’s how EU Space can help achieve both.
A competitive Europe
EU Space is the bedrock from which the EU can build common economic prosperity, competitiveness, sovereignty, security, resilience and global influence.
According to EUSPA’s latest EO & GNSS Market Report, the EU Space market is growing – and growing fast, with GNSS and Earth Observation combined global revenues set to increase from more than EUR 260 billion in 2023 to nearly EUR 590 billion by 2033. Meanwhile, the demand for Secure SATCOM services is expected to grow by a factor of 14 over the 2025–2040 period, to reach almost 190 Gbps in 2040.
This market growth is great news for the EU, whose economic resilience stands to benefit from the market adoption of EU Space technologies. It’s also good news for citizens and businesses, both of whom increasingly rely on space-based data and services.
Whether it be through funding mechanisms, competitions, market insights or business support, EUSPA is helping to drive this market growth. In doing so, it is building an innovative and uniquely European space sector capable of delivering the services and solutions that will advance the EU’s global competitiveness.
A green Europe
The EU Space Programme is set to play a key role in Europe’s green and energy transitions, which requires that companies take a deep look at their internal operations and surrounding supply chain to understand where and how pollution and waste occur.
From renewable energy generation and distribution to industrial waste management, wildlife monitoring, urban planning and fleet management, Copernicus and Galileo offer a host of independent, as well as synergistic services, to aid companies along their sustainability journeys and support them in greening their operations.
“Whether it be driving the green and energy transitions, boosting Europe’s competitiveness, or protecting Europe, its citizens and its democracies from security threats, when it comes to building a strong Europe in a changing world, EU Space is an indispensable resource,” concludes EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “EUSPA looks forward to helping the Danish Presidency leverage the entire EU Space Programme to match words with action and deliver on the challenges that the EU faces.”
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