European Union Space Services Agency
PURPOSE: to establish a self-standing founding act for the European Union Space Service Agency (EUSPA).
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696, replaced the former GNSS Agency and supports the implementation of the EU Space Programme, notably in security accreditation and the development of market uptake and downstream applications. Building on its expertise, the Agency is responsible for security accreditation across all EU space actions and plays a key role in promoting the use of Galileo and EGNOS services, as well as broader user uptake activities. Its mandate has been further expanded under the 2023 Secure Connectivity Programme, with an increasing role foreseen in the future EU space policy framework (2028–2034).
As the current Regulation no longer adequately reflects these expanded responsibilities, the proposal aims to update the Agency’s tasks and organisation, ensure continuity beyond existing budget cycles, and rename it the European Union Space Services Agency to better reflect its evolving role.
CONTENT: the Commission proposes a new regulation to establish a self-standing founding act for the European Union Space Services Agency, known as EUSPA. This act renames the current Agency for the European Space Programme and amends the relevant parts in the current Union Space Programme Regulation to better reflect its current role and the tasks also in view of the future of Union space systems and taking account of the necessary flexibility.
The proposal defines the mandate, structure, and functioning of the renamed European Union Space Services Agency, updating and clarifying its role within EU space programmes.
Principles and tasks
The proposal sets out the Agency’s mission, maintains its legal status, and clarifies arrangements for local offices and staff deployment. It details three categories of tasks:
1. core responsibilities (e.g. security accreditation, operational security of space components, user services, and technical support to the Commission);
2. tasks delegated by the Commission (notably management and operation of key space services such as navigation and governmental satellite communications);
3. additional tasks to be entrusted progressively, subject to operational readiness, including expanded roles in Earth observation, secure connectivity, space weather, surveillance, radio-frequency interference monitoring services, technological sovereignty and support to the EU space economy and cybersecurity.
It also ensures that adequate resources and service continuity - especially in crisis situations - are guaranteed.
Organisation
The Agency’s administrative and management structure is streamlined and will be composed of an Administrative Board, an Executive Director, a Deputy Executive Director and a Security Accreditation Board. The proposal makes changes regarding voting rules, enhancing the Commission’s role, introducing crisis-response mechanisms, and refining security accreditation procedures.
Transitional and final provisions
The proposal ensures continuity of existing activities, legal commitments, and structures under Regulation (EU) 2021/696. It repeals outdated provisions and sets the application date for 1 January 2028.
Budgetary implications
The financial envelope for the Union contribution to the Agency under the MFF 2021-2027 package is EUR 525.7 million. To ensure the continuation of current tasks and to fund new activities under the Agency’s mandate, this proposal provides for an increase in the contribution to the Agency for the next MFF 2028-2034, with an allocation of EUR 979.6 million.