Position Papers

Industry Position Papers

Industry organises its work on policy and technical matters within thematic Working Groups, Task Forces & Panels. Official industry positions prepared by Eurospace are available here.

2024

Eurospace Position Paper “Streamlining industry’s ability to be more agile and competitive in an ESA context”

In its effort to increase ESA’s value for citizens and society and pave the way for a long-term ambition for Europe in space, ESA Agenda 2025 outlines five specific priorities with clear targets for 2025. The last one, “complete the ESA transformation” is all the more important that it directly impacts the European space industry’s ability to be competitive.

Accelerating time to contract, reducing the number of procurement constraints that make proposal preparation extremely expensive will allow industry to offer high-quality and innovative products in a cost-effective manner. The digitalisation of ESA processes, at all stages of the procurement process, will be a key support to this endeavour.

Against the soaring of the costs of proposals in an inflationary context that are further eating low profitability margins, the European space industry wishes to share its eight steps of an agile and cost-effective ESA procurement process in its Position Paper “Streamlining industry’s ability to be more agile and competitive in an ESA context”, available here.

2023

Eurospace Position Paper “Contribution to the future EU Space Law”

Direct answer to the critical need for security and resilience (as well as safety and sustainability) in Europe, the announced EU Space Law will contribute to one of industry’s most important priorities: to promote and operate in space in a secure, safe and sustainable way.

In this regard, Eurospace has been contributing to these reflections, in our latest paper “Contribution to the future EU Space Law”, available here.

If the EU Space Law is very much welcome as it aims at providing a clear and stable legal framework for space activities in Europe, the European space industry expects the future legislative proposal to support its competitiveness and of course not to risk fragilising its good position on the limited open markets, vis-à-vis international competitors who may not face the same regulatory burdens.

Eurospace Position Paper “Implementation of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence – recommendations from Eurospace”

In the past months and weeks, the European Commission, and in particular DG DEFIS, has been stepping up its game in the field of space and defence: this was symbolised by the much-awaited publication last March of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence.

While the European space industry, represented by Eurospace, already published its official reaction to the Strategy in a Reaction Paper in May – outlining a major and positive event for the sector, which will be key in making Europe a real (unified) space power -, it is now time, in a context where the Strategy will lead the way to new programmes and activities, to work for its implementation. In this regard, Eurospace has been contributing to these reflections, in our latest paper “Implementation of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence – recommendations from Eurospace”, available here.

Industry recommendations encompass a number of topics (from cybersecurity, mobility to & in space, to governance) and try to find solutions to the strong incidence the Strategy will have on industry activities as well as on the activities of our European customers – agencies and operators -, not only because of new needs for capabilities or space-based services, but also because of new requirements and constraints.

Eurospace Position Paper “Ensuring the short and long-term financial sustainability of Copernicus“

Joint endeavour from Eurospace, SME4SPACE, EARSC and Nereus, the Position Paper “Ensuring the short and long-term financial sustainability of Copernicus”, available here, aims at alerting our institutional counterparts of major uncertainties for the nominal continuity of the Copernicus Programme, direct consequence of a 721M€ funding gap.

If it jeopardises Copernicus’ capability to be the unfailing ally to the European Union’s ambitions to be the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, from an industrial perspective, the funding gap will endanger the continuity of the observation of the Sentinels and the nominal execution of the Sentinels Expansions missions, resulting in a stop of activities at system level that will have several dramatic impacts both for the upstream and the downstream European space sector (e.g., risks in data/services continuity, loss of contracts in the commercial export market, loss of skills and competences).

Eurospace Position Paper “Towards a New Approach to Commercialisation, Innovative Procurement & Industrialisation”

European institutional actors have expressed since a few years the political will to “modernise the space sector”, with the objective to promote also in Europe the effects induced by new approaches to commercialisation, innovative procurement and industrialisation observed originally in the US. This has been reminded in ESA Agenda 2025 itself, which calls for “boosting disruptive innovation in emerging commercial space domains”, and in the “EU Space Strategy” in 2016, which declared that the Commission will be “encouraging the development of commercial markets for new space activities”.

In this context, the European space industry is contributing to these reflections, in our latest paper “Towards a New Approach to Commercialisation, Innovative Procurement & Industrialisation”, available here.

Building also on the recent enlargement of Eurospace membership to smaller and new entities, the objective of this paper is to provide consensual recommendations from Industry in order to help framing European public institutions’ vision and perspective with regard to new industrial and commercial approaches (building on what is often referred to as the “Newspace” or “Space Commercialisation”).

Eurospace Reaction Paper “EU Space Strategy for Security & Defence”

On March 10th, the European Commission (EC) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published the Joint Communication “EU Space strategy for Security & Defence”

Only two months after its publication, the European space industry, represented trough Eurospace, is pleased to share its official reaction to the Strategy, here.

The publication of this Strategy is a major and positive event for the sector, which will be key in making Europe a real (unified) space power. In a tense geopolitical context symbolised by the war in Ukraine, further confirmation that the EU institutions do consider space as a key element of sovereignty is essential to accelerate the path towards strengthening and reinforcing the security and defence dimension of space. True game changer, the Strategy will fully assert European’s responsibility and commitment to world peace and security, by strengthening its freedom of action in space while relying on its sovereign capability and assets, one of the most direct and critical tools at its disposal to exert action and influence.

The European space industry, represented through Eurospace, is fully mobilised to support the initiative with its long-standing expertise in the provision of infrastructures and services of “dual use” nature.

Industry Inputs to European Industry & Start-Ups Forum proposals

On the broad topic of Space Traffic Management, Eurospace is since the beginning an active member of the European Commission and EUSST Partnership’s European Industry and Start-ups Forum (EISF), as all the efforts towards establishing the EU as a long-term partner and customer of industry for all aspects related to the monitoring of space objects are very much welcome.

In our “Industry inputs to EISF proposals”, available here, Eurospace supports the role of the EU SST Partnership as a key operational capability and advocates for a stronger involvement of the European space industry, alongside the capabilities owned by the members of the EU SST Partnership, as they are also vital to guarantee high revisit, swath of observation and ultimately strategic autonomy with respect to US capabilities.

Eurospace Reaction Paper to ESA Communication on Inflation

On December 16th, ESA presented its “Communication to Space Industry”, meant to clarify the Agency’s approach to address space industry concerns with respect to the inflation impact on ESA contracts.

Following the publication, Eurospace, via its Inflation Task Force, worked towards conveying a set of messages and questions to ESA that are available here.

2022

Mitigate the costs of inflation to sustain the competitiveness of the European space supply chain

Rising inflation and the scarcity of some critical components is a huge issue for all industries in Europe, and particularly so for the space industry. It is expected to generate costs increases within the European space industry of around 700M€ per year as soon as 2023. Inflation is a strong concern for the upcoming ESA Council of Ministers.

We believe that Member States must use this critical moment to take actions to mitigate the effects of inflation on multiyear contracts, and to preserve the sustainability and competitiveness of the whole European space supply chain.

This Position Paper, available here, addresses the situation from the perspective of the European space industry, and promotes the investigation of suitable avenues to mitigate its effects and preserve the sustainability and competitiveness of the European space supply chain, to ensure the same level of speed and ambition in the execution of European space programmes in an inflationary context.

Copernicus: how to further enhance the impact of a world-class programme

In addition to being a key asset for Europe to position itself as a world leader in environmental monitoring, Copernicus is an excellent showcase for the European space sector on the open markets, as well as for supporting political recognition of space in Europe. The current context requiring a thorough reflexion about the evolution of the Programme, our new Position Paper “Copernicus: how to further enhance the impact of a world-class programme”, available here, is a first contribution of the European space industry to the discussion.

In this document, industry wishes to highlight the key features of the programme which we consider that the evolution should be built upon, and to propose a number of improvements that should be implemented to further enhance the impact of the programme.

2021

Global space exploration is at a turning point – Support the further definition of ESA Exploration Strategy 2030+

Global space exploration is at a turning point, reaching to a new dimension beyond human presence in low Earth orbit, with a clear vision and roadmap to the Moon and Mars. This vision is spearheaded by the USA and NASA, while China, Russia and India are announcing their own plans for expanding Human presence in the solar system. Europe shall now embrace this dimension with a renewed exploration programme writing its own path to planetary exploration.

This Position Paper, available here, supports the definition of ESA Exploration Strategy 2030+ to secure the right level of European presence in international exploration endeavours.

“Accelerating the use of space in Europe” : PORTFOLIO OF INDUSTRY PROPOSALS

When ESA DG contacted Eurospace to support his initiative of reflecting about new flagship programmes for Europe in the frame of a future “Space Summit”, Eurospace members have done a tremendous amount of work in proposing industry’s most innovative ideas.
The attached proposals for new Flagship Programmes of Europe in Space are presented here as a collective and uncensored effort of the European space industries to contribute and support ESA ambitions for the future of Europe in space. The proposals are organised under the four headlines of “Sustainable Space”, “Space Data for Citizens”, “European spirit of Space discovery”, and “Active contribution of Space against Climate Change” that speak both to the European leaders and to the general public.

Have a look at our most innovative ideas here.

Industry Manifesto for a new ESA Profitability Policy for Space procurement activities

The Position Paper, available here, proposes recommendations to address the issue of Industry profitability when conducting ESA procurement contracts.

Profit is used for self-investment and innovation which paves the way for the future of industry and supports the competitiveness of the European space industry on the international market; industry profit is also, obviously, key to attract and/or sustain the motivation of investors and shareholders.

Space Traffic Management (STM): An opportunity to seize for the European space sector

In a rapidly evolving global context for space activities in which the European Space sector’s ability to compete on a level-playing field, its sustainability and the European sovereignty are at stake, the European Space Industry is convinced of the necessity for the European institutions to be at the forefront of the discussions on the topic of Space Traffic Management (STM) and to provide the grounds to protect key European space infrastructures and their associated services.

By promoting key recommendations towards a greater collaboration between European Institutions, EU and ESA Member States and the Space sector, our ambition is to collectively pave the way for a European-led approach towards the use of agreed space traffic rules and procedures.

The industry’s “Manifesto for a European Global Answer on STM” is available here.

2020

Industry Manifesto for a resilient satellite system for secure connectivity… to make Europe fit for the Digital Age

The European space industry has reflected on a forward-thinking approach to support the initiative by proposing possible ways forward and use these preliminary ideas to initiate a dialogue with the European Commission, the European Member States and, especially, the stakeholders of the telecommunication sector (space and terrestrial) to discuss their involvement and possible ways to team up.

The results of the European space industry’s reflections are available here in its “Industry Manifesto for a resilient satellite system for secure connectivity… to make Europe fit for the Digital Age”.

Best-Practice Guidance for the European Space sector to comply with SCIP notification from 2021, providing practical recommendations tailored to Space Products for duty holders

ASD-EUROSPACE herewith wishes to share to all interested entities a Best-Practice Guidance to facilitate legal compliance specifically for Space Products with the new ‘SCIP’ (i.e. Substances of Concern In articles, as such or in complex objects – Products) notification requirement introduced in the revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC (WFD).

This Guidance, available here.

Covid-19 significant measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic

Eurospace calls for significant measures by the European Union and the Member States to mitigate the impact of the pandemic here

European space supply chain inputs for competitiveness RDT&I in Horizon Europe

Between November 2017 and February 2020, the STEPP pilot project, funded by the European Parliament, has led the contribution of sector consolidated inputs to the Commission-led consultation platform for Horizon Europe space technologies. While the Platform elaborated a SRIA including High Level inputs and implementation recommendations in the context of Horizon Europe, STEPP designed a series of implementation roadmaps. The SRIA is produced on the basis of an inclusive and structured process designed with a view of supporting the implementation of the Space Strategy for Europe.

The STEPP Inputs for the SRIA for Horizon Europe Space Technologies is a high-level summary of the STEPP inputs for the full-scale Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Horizon Europe Space Technologies developed in the frame of the STEPP Project.

Revised common position of the European Space Industry on the exemption of propellant-related use of hydrazine

The purpose of this document here is to state the revised common position of the European Space Industry on the exemption of propellant-related use of hydrazine (EC 206-114-9)1 and a number of other liquid propellants for space applications from the authorisation requirement under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH). Hydrazine has been included in ECHA’s candidate list on 20 June 2011 and may be prioritized for inclusion in Annex XIV of REACH at any time.

2019

Space industry position regarding Article 9 of the revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC

Space industry position regarding article 9 of the revised waste framework directive.

Eurospace position paper
Annex 1 – EC reply to Eurospace of June 14th 2019
Annex 2 – Eurospace response to EC of August 8th 2019
Annex 3 – COM Non-paperWFD of June 20th 2019

Towards an ambitious ESA ministerial Council 2019

The proposals set out in this paper here in view of next ESA ministerial Council in 2019 are a refinement of the 2018 version, elaborated via a wide consultation process of the European space industry, with resulting priorities being recommended on the basis of a wide context analysis.

Eurospace high level guidelines for Space in Horizon Europe

As the final discussions for the next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, are coming into an end, Eurospace wishes to highlight three guidelines of major importance if Europe wants to keep its leading edge in terms of innovation, competitiveness and readiness, here.

2018

Aggregation of European institutional launch service levels

In order to keep the European autonomous access to space, it is essential for Europe to maintain its global leadership throughout the entire value chain of the space sector. Nonetheless, the current worldwide scenario is being severely challenged by an aggressive competition and asymmetries in access to the market: in particular, the size of captive markets and pricing policies are different from one space power to the other, resulting in an unbearable competitive disadvantage for the European launcher industry.

The Eurospace position on the aggregation of all European institutional launch services to counter such distortions and move towards a level-playing field to the benefit of Europe developed launchers is available here.

Copernicus after 2020: a perspective of the European space industry

This Position Paper is composed of a “Copernicus manifesto”, focusing on the achievements of & high-level perspectives for the programme, here, and a summary of Eurospace ambitions for the Copernicus programme after 2020, here

2017

Preparation of EU FP9 programme

This position paper here has been prepared by the Eurospace FP9 Task force formed in April 2017 by mandate of Eurospace Council. The Position paper was formally endorsed by Eurospace Council on 20 November 2017. This position is complemented by a set of annexes providing more details on specific areas of the paper. In particular the RIAP outline annex provides the Eurospace proposals for the expected scope of activities to be addressed by a JTI

Public private interactions

This Position paper here makes recommendations towards more efficient public-private interactions regarding public procurement of space programmes.

Towards a space economic diplomacy

This Position Paper here aims at providing EU institutions with a state-of-play of our reflections and details some operational and ready-to-use measures that could be promptly put in place by the European Commission (EC) together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), giving them a tangible dimension to this developing “European space economic diplomacy” concept.

The Position Paper is completed by background elements here

2016

A Space Strategy for Europe

This position Paper here, elaborated in the context of the revision of the European Commission’s strategic guidelines for the future of the EU space policy, aims at ensuring that Europe remains at the cutting-edge of innovation and competitiveness in the space sector and at optimizing, in times of budgetary constraints and financial pressures, the use and application of the European space policy as an instrument benefiting economic growth and societal progress in the European Union.

2014

EU-ESA relations

The end of 2012 and the start of 2013 were very rich in declarations and resolutions regarding the relationship between the EU and ESA. In the frame of different scenarios that are now being considered by the institutions, Industry is keen to contribute to the debate by providing its views here on this crucial topic, in particular because the unsolved governance issue has affected key space programmes, and is detrimental to the European Space sector as it prevents it from developing its full potential for the benefit of public policies and economic growth.

Position Papers

Industry Position Papers

2024

Eurospace Position Paper “Streamlining industry’s ability to be more agile and competitive in an ESA context”

2023

Eurospace Position Paper “Contribution to the future EU Space Law”

Eurospace Position Paper “Implementation of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence – recommendations from Eurospace”

Eurospace Position Paper “Ensuring the short and long-term financial sustainability of Copernicus“

Eurospace Position Paper “Towards a New Approach to Commercialisation, Innovative Procurement & Industrialisation”

Eurospace Reaction Paper “EU Space Strategy for Security & Defence”

Industry Inputs to European Industry & Start-Ups Forum proposals

Eurospace Reaction Paper to ESA Communication on Inflation

2022

Mitigate the costs of inflation to sustain the competitiveness of the European space supply chain

Copernicus: how to further enhance the impact of a world-class programme

2021

Global space exploration is at a turning point – Support the further definition of ESA Exploration Strategy 2030+

“Accelerating the use of space in Europe” : PORTFOLIO OF INDUSTRY PROPOSALS

Industry Manifesto for a new ESA Profitability Policy for Space procurement activities

Space Traffic Management (STM): An opportunity to seize for the European space sector

2020

Industry Manifesto for a resilient satellite system for secure connectivity… to make Europe fit for the Digital Age

Best-Practice Guidance for the European Space sector to comply with SCIP notification from 2021, providing practical recommendations tailored to Space Products for duty holders

Covid-19 significant measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic

European space supply chain inputs for competitiveness RDT&I in Horizon Europe

Revised common position of the European Space Industry on the exemption of propellant-related use of hydrazine

2019

Space industry position regarding Article 9 of the revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC

Towards an ambitious ESA ministerial Council 2019

Eurospace high level guidelines for Space in Horizon Europe

2018

Aggregation of European institutional launch service levels

Copernicus after 2020: a perspective of the European space industry

2017

Preparation of EU FP9 programme

Public private interactions

Towards a space economic diplomacy

2016

A Space Strategy for Europe

2014

EU-­ESA relations

Useful links

Pages

Position Papers

Research & Publications

EU-ESA relations