EU Commissioner Urges Greater Funding for Space Projects from Long‑Term Budget

EU Commission Nears Final Draft on Next Seven‑Year Budget

The European Commission is wrapping up the outline for the bloc’s multi‑year financial plan that will take effect after 2027. The current provisional allocation is set at €1.2 trillion, covering a variety of policy domains.

Defence and Space Commissioner Seeks Extra Funding

Key development— The Commissioner of Defence and Space, in an interview with Euronews, has voiced a clear demand for additional resources to support his sector’s objectives.

• The upcoming budget will shape EU spending priorities through 2034.
• Defence and space programmes are highlighted as primary areas needing further investment.
• Negotiations will balance fiscal constraints with the strategic aims of security and technological advancement.

EU Urges Stronger Space Funding for Strategic Independence

On Euronews’ “EU Decoded” show, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius highlighted the need for the EU’s forthcoming long‑term budget (2028‑2034), currently pegged at €1.2 trillion, to allocate more resources to space initiatives. His goal: reduce dependence on the United States and cement the bloc’s strategic autonomy.

Key Points from Kubilius

• Existing defence and intelligence systems require an investment exceeding the current €17 billion earmarked for space in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021‑27).
• Europe remains overly dependent on U.S. strategic capabilities; building home‑grown space intelligence data is urgent.
• The EU’s IRIS² project—a €11 billion effort to establish a secure, multi‑orbital satellite network for governments and businesses—is underway, but new ventures will emerge under the next MFF.
• Inadequate funding could leave Europe in an undesirable position by 2035, according to Kubilius.

Challenges and Current Landscape

With the decline of the Ariane 4–5 launchers and a weakened geostationary satellite sector, Europe has had to depend on U.S. SpaceX rockets for satellite launches. Corporate competitiveness reports from Mario Draghi reveal falling market share, disrupted supply chains, and shrinking profits due to heavy reliance on imported components like semiconductors.

Strategic Roadmap

Earlier this year, Kubilius outlined a comprehensive EU space strategy: ongoing flagship programmes, an industrial strategy to stimulate innovation, autonomous launch capabilities, tighter defence‑space integration, and increased investment.

The EU Space Act has already been enacted, establishing a single market for space activities and data. However, whether sufficient funding will be secured in the next MFF to realize the remaining agenda remains uncertain.

Next Funding Round

On 16 July, the European Commission will unveil the initial proposal for the post‑2027 budget. The allocation debate will pit longstanding priorities against emerging EU objectives, shaping the future of space investment.