Council Meeting at Ministerial Level

At the ESA Council at Ministerial level held in Paris on 22 and 23 November, government ministers representing ESA’s Member States, Associate States and Cooperating States resolved to together strengthen Europe’s space ambitions, ensuring a continuous concerted effort to serve European citizens.

Ministers confirmed that Europe’s independent access to space is crucial to secure the benefits that space brings to life on Earth – including climate change monitoring and mitigation, secure communications and navigation under European control, and rapid and resilient responses to crises.

By committing to future space exploration, Europe has also committed to advancing scientific understanding, fulfilling its potential and retaining its talent for generations to come. ESA is working to ensure that essential space-based services are secure, and that Earth’s orbital space is responsibly managed.

Read more in the Press Release: Ministers back ESA’s bold ambitions for space with record 17% rise

Read more about the CM22 proposal

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought fear and instability to the world and will have far-reaching consequences for us all. ESA Member States must respond by ensuring Europe will always have access to space and to its benefits for life on Earth – including climate change monitoring and mitigation, secure communications under European control and rapid and resilient crisis response.

Space missions stimulate technological innovation and scientific discovery. By committing to the missions of the future, Europe commits to fulfilling its potential and retaining its talent. We will also answer our very human need to understand our place in the Universe and all the building blocks of the cosmos. Our generation has benefited from ground-breaking missions that were commissioned decades ago. We want to prepare missions that will make our successors proud and advance scientific understanding for generations to come.

Each of us relies on space every day. ESA is working to ensure that essential services are secure and that the resource that is Earth’s orbit is well managed.

The rise of commercial use of space is transforming our industry worldwide. ESA supports the European space industry in all its shapes and sizes, providing access to expertise, technology, funding and customers.

ESA is also reforming itself to fit within the evolving space ecosystem, working efficiently and quickly on the best new ideas to optimise value for money. ESA will continue to invest in fundamental research, while also bringing the best ideas to European citizens as quickly as possible. We will work closely and not in competition with our commercial partners.

Our proposals for the next three years are thoughtful, considered and pragmatic. They are the result of careful evaluation, but are driven by our ambition.

Even in these dark days, we can look to a brighter future. ESA’s Agenda 2025 sets the goal of reinforcing ESA’s position as a global space leader by 2035. ESA must be united and strong to be a reliable partner for the European Union and for international projects. By investing wisely now, ESA Member States can provide for the future needs of European citizens.

There has never been a more important time for us to deliver on our priorities.

Creating value for Europe

As space becomes ever more integrated into the daily lives of citizens, the impact of space activities on the European economy and society grows ever stronger. At CM22, 14 independent socio-economic studies will support critical decisions while providing evidence of the value generated by space in Europe.

For example, just one of ESA’s programmes, dubbed ‘Future Earth Observation’, could generate up to €3.2 billion in contribution to European economic growth in the period 2023–30.

Find out more about how space benefits us and its role in addressing environmental, social and economic challenges.