The European Commission has proposed a new regulation to establish a standalone founding act for the European Union Space Services Agency, known as EUSPA. This legislative move renames the current Agency for the European Space Programme and amends the relevant parts in the current Union Space Programme Regulation to reflect the organization’s expanding operational responsibilities. Under the new proposal, the Agency will transition to a standalone founding act which will need not be amended for each seven-year EU budget cycle.
As the operational arm of the EU’s space activities, EUSPA is responsible for managing the satellite navigation systems Galileo and EGNOS, as well as the security of the Union’s space infrastructure. It acts as the key link between space technology and the public and private sectors, ensuring that satellite data is translated into functional services for European citizens and businesses.
Through this dedicated founding act, the Commission aims to strengthen the Agency’s role as a primary service provider in the global space sector as well as additional responsibilities in other space-related areas, provided it has the necessary operational capacity and resources. The proposal seeks to ensure that the European Union maintains its strategic autonomy and remains a competitive actor in a rapidly evolving international space environment.
