In her letter of intent of 13 September 2023 to the President of the European Parliament, and to the Presidency of the Council of the EU, the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen included a proposal on EU space law as one of her key initiatives for 2024. In the Commission work programme 2024 published on 17 October 2023, the Commission announces the adoption of a legislative initiative, to be adopted during the first quarter of 2024. The proposed EU space law will set rules on space traffic management, and will provide a framework to ensure the safety of the critical space infrastructure.

This initiative is expected to provide a common framework for security, safety, and sustainability in space, that would ensure a consistent and EU-wide approach.

The opportunity to table a legislative act has been assessed, and raised by the Commission at several occasions since 2019:

• with the joint communication of 15 February 2022 on an EU Approach for Space Traffic Management An EU contribution addressing a global challenge, the Commission noted that the significant increase of traffic to and from space, and of the number of satellites in the different orbits, and the necessity to avoid the generation of debris compels to impose certain obligations to every satellite operator.
• with the joint communication of 10 March 2023 on an EU space strategy for security and defence, to enhance the level of security and resilience of space operations and services in the EU, as well as their safety and sustainability, the Commission will consider
  proposing an EU space law, to encourage the development of resilience measures in the EU, foster information-exchange on incidents as well as cross-border coordination and cooperation.

On 9 April 2024, during his hearing by the Parliament committee on industry, transport, research and energy (ITRE), Commissioner Thierry Breton mentioned that the publication of the legislative proposal for a space law might be postponed to be released later in 2024.  

On 17 September 2024, the mission letter assigned to Commissioner designate for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, invites him to lead the work on the preparation of the proposal for a EU space law, which should introduce common EU standards and rules for EU space activities, as well as harmonising licensing requirements. 

During his hearing, the Commissioner designate announced that the new Commission is planning to publish a proposal for a regulation on a EU single market for space in 2025. It will be based on safety, security and sustainability requirements.

References:

• European Commission, mission letter to Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner designate to Defence and Space, 2024
• European Commission, report by Mario Draghi on the future of European competitiveness, 2024
• European Commission, Commission work programme 2024, 2023
• European Commission, State of the Union 2023 - letter of intent, 2023
• European Commission, Joint communication on a European Union Space strategy for security and defence, 2023
• European Commission, Joint communication on a European Union approach to space traffic management, 2023

Author: Clement Evroux, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu