Macron calls for shared governance and stronger European space capability
The French president announced approximately €20 billion for Europe’s space industry and urged the bloc to pursue crewed spaceflight.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for shared governance of outer space and a stronger European space capability at the International Space Summit in Paris.
Macron said existing regulation did not match the stakes involved in space, arguing that shared governance was necessary to address emerging challenges. He also urged Europe to develop its own crewed spaceflight capability, presenting the proposal as part of a broader effort to strengthen the continent’s sovereign space capabilities.
The two-day summit brought together officials, astronauts, researchers and industry leaders from about 120 countries. Macron described Europe’s space sector as fragile but said it had the potential to become a major global player.
He announced approximately €20 billion in investment for Europe’s space industry. No detailed breakdown, timeframe or funding mechanism for the figure was provided.
European countries have sought stronger sovereign space capabilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 highlighted the strategic importance and vulnerability of satellite communications. The European Space Agency describes satellites as critical infrastructure used daily by citizens.
The United States remains the leading space power, with NASA’s Artemis programme aimed at establishing a human presence on the Moon. SpaceX has expanded the commercial launch market through operational reusable rockets, while Amazon launched its first internet satellites in 2025 and plans a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites.
