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The EU as a Key Player in Multilateral Forums on Space Security: Perspectives for the OEWG 2025–28
There has been increased engagement at the multilateral level on the topic of space security in recent years. An open-ended working group (OEWG) on reducing space threats was organized in 2022–23 and a Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space was convened in 2023–24. Unfortunately, consensus has been difficult to achieve due to worsening tensions on the global stage and longstanding disagreements on space matters. In this context, the role of the European Union (EU) as a community of states and a spacefaring actor in its own right needs to be elaborated. This report examines the recent evolution of EU space activities and the growing connection established by EU stakeholders between space, security and defence. It reflects on how these developments informed EU participation in the earlier OEWG in 2022–23 and should be leveraged to contribute to the new one in 2025–28.
Table of contents
I. Introduction
II. The first OEWG: A new approach to a longstanding issue
III. The EU as an increasingly relevant actor in space, security and defence
IV. EU participation in the first OEWG
V. Key challenges and recommendations for future EU action
VI. Conclusions
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)/EDITORS
Mathieu Bataille is a former Research Fellow and Lead on Security and Defence at the European Space Policy Institute, addressing security both in space and from space. He now works for the European Space Agency in Paris.