There are around 11,000 satellites rotating the Earth, and it is estimated that at least 50,000 more will be launched over the next decade. There are also international space stations such as exploration tools, supply ships and complexes. But who did all this in space? Without clear regulations, the EU proposed the Space Law, a set of measures aimed at making the European space sector a cleaner, safer and more competitive environment for domestic and international markets.
The European Commission insists that current spatial regulation within the euro zone is divided into various national approaches that slow down innovation, reduce European participation in global markets, and incur additional costs.
According to EU executives, the draft legislation will promote the group’s expansion in other markets as it aims to simplify procedures, protect assets in the track and promote a level of competitive environment. The regulation focuses on three key pillars:
- Safety: Faced with more than 128 million pieces of debris circulating in space, the Space Law proposes measures to optimize tracking of objects in orbit and prevent new debris from being produced. This includes specific requirements to ensure that satellites are disposed of at the end of their lives.
- Elasticity: The Commission warns that space infrastructure faces an increasing number of cyber threats that can damage the operation of satellites or destroy essential services. Therefore, the proposal requires all operators to conduct risk assessments throughout the life of their intra-rail system. They will also be asked to submit detailed incident reports and adopt updated cybersecurity standards.
- Sustainability: As space activities increase, it is crucial to effectively manage resources.2 Emissions and waste. The new legal framework establishes common standards for monitoring these impacts and defining preventive or corrective action.
In a statement, the Commission stressed that “the new provision will apply to EU and national space assets, as well as non-EU operators providing services in Europe. Regulatory requirements will apply to company size and maturity levels and are measured based on the risks involved.”
Europe wants to lead the space economy
Aware that compliance with the regulatory framework would require substantial costs, the Commission proposed a range of support measures such as strengthening technical capabilities, facilitating access to test facilities and help in the authorization process. These measures are intended to benefit particularly from startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry.
The commission also presents a new vision to enhance the European space economy with the aim of addressing global dynamics in the industry, growing international competition, and emerging geopolitical challenges.
The agency believes that Space is a rapidly growing industry that has made a significant contribution to the group’s competitiveness. It covers industries dedicated to the manufacturing and operation of space systems, as well as a wide range of services that affect climate, environment, agriculture, energy, transportation, insurance, banking, security and defense.
The proposed economic strategy includes over 40 specific actions to ensure strong European participation in the global space market, strengthen its autonomy and consolidate its technological advantages. One of the initiatives is to establish the European Space Team, a senior forum that will bring together key players in the ecosystem, such as the European Space Agency and the EU Space Program, to coordinate the efforts and unite capabilities of individual Blocs. In addition, the Commission plans to adopt a variety of investment mechanisms to improve its aerospace economy.
Starting this year, the Commission will develop a specific approach to monitoring the EU’s competitiveness and market share in the global space economy.
“European leadership in space must be rooted in sovereignty, security and strategic vision. Through the EU Space Law, we are taking a bold step to ensure that our space infrastructure is resilient, the innovation ecosystem is empowered, and the autonomy of our key technologies is guaranteed democracy.
This story originally appeared in wired español and has been translated into Spanish.
