France and Germany are co-hosting a major international space summit this week at the Grand Palais in Paris. The event, held on Wednesday and Thursday, brings together astronauts, heads of state, and leaders from the space industry at a strategic turning point for the European space sector.
The summit, which President Emmanuel Macron announced in October 2025, aims to establish a shared European vision for the continent’s role among global space powers by 2035. According to the Élysée Palace, the focus will be on international space cooperation and strengthening security in space.
In recent years, Europe has increasingly sought to reduce its reliance on US dominance in the global space market. This includes developing domestic launch vehicles and increasing state and pan-European funding for space programs.
Historically, Europe has allocated about 0.07% of its GDP to space programs, compared to 0.24% in the US. The year 2025 marked a turning point: in November, the European Space Agency (ESA) approved a record budget of 22.3 billion euros for the 2026–2028 funding cycle. The report also notes an additional 35 billion euros in funding for space initiatives related to security and defense.
Another potential focus is resource extraction on the Moon, which is viewed as a possible path to securing clean energy resources and critical raw materials. This aligns with Europe’s goal to reduce dependence on China and Russia.
Disagreements between France and Germany
Tensions emerged ahead of the summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed on Friday that he would not attend due to prior commitments. Instead, Germany will be represented by Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and Minister of Space Dorothee Bär.
France and Germany have had several disagreements over space and defense projects in recent years. In June 2026, after years of disputes, the countries abandoned the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project.
Emmanuel Macron has consistently emphasized the importance of European strategic autonomy and supports programs like Ariane 6 over reliance on American providers, such as SpaceX, led by Elon Musk.
Meanwhile, Germany has shown a greater willingness to use cheaper American alternatives like SpaceX. On Saturday, the German startup Isar Aerospace conducted the first commercial rocket launch to reach orbit from mainland Europe. Friedrich Merz called the launch “the beginning of a new era.”
US companies withdraw
Several American companies have also withdrawn from the summit. According to Politico, a White House official warned companies that their attendance “could be seen as tacit support for the EU’s political positions.”
A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, which oversees national space policy, told AFP that SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, and Starcloud had pulled out. The spokesperson added that “it is hard not to link this to rumors of pressure in the press.”
Hermann Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute, told Euronews that France is the “driving force” of the European space sector, noting its strong political support for the industry.
According to Hermann Ludwig Moeller, space is increasingly becoming a “domain of warfare.” It is becoming clear to the general public that modern conflicts are hybrid in nature, involving attacks on critical transport, energy, and digital infrastructure. He believes space technologies can enhance the resilience of this infrastructure.
Hermann Ludwig Moeller also stressed the importance of technologies like satellite navigation for both civilian and military use. “While they are essential for daily life, the war in Ukraine has also demonstrated their strategic importance in modern warfare,” he said.
Ukraine‘s reliance on the Starlink satellite network following the full-scale Russian invasion demonstrated the strategic value of space services during wartime. The network provides stable internet access even when ground infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.
This situation has also pushed Europe to develop its own independent satellite networks, including the secure internet constellation IRIS².
Source: Euronews
