Overview
The analysis is based on the consolidated summary of amendments to the EU Space Legislation (IMCO-AM-781289_EN) and procedural data. The file concerns the proposed Regulation on the safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities in the Union (2025/0335(COD)), a legislative file under the ordinary legislative procedure. The current status is ongoing, with the European Parliament awaiting a committee decision and first-reading negotiations underway. The proposed amendments indicate a highly contested legislative process focused on shaping a precise and enforceable regulatory framework for the space sector. Key debates centre on the regulatory scope and proportionality, conditions for third-country market access, the institutional governance balance between EU agencies and national authorities, and the stringency of technical standards for safety and sustainability.
Legislative timeline
The European Commission, via DG CNECT, tabled the proposal. The European Parliament’s committee amendments were tabled on 27 November 2025. In the Council, technical examination has begun within a working party, with a Presidency compromise text circulated on 16 December 2025 and the proposal formally on the Council agenda on 13 February 2026. The next expected step is for the Commission to support the ongoing scrutiny by the co-legislators as first-reading negotiations progress.
Institutional handling
The lead committee in the European Parliament is the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Within the European Commission, the responsible department is the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), under Commissioner Henna Virkkunen. The Council configuration handling the file is the Competitiveness Council (COMPET).
Stakeholder reactions
Stakeholder engagement has been extensive, with 186 documented meetings held between stakeholders and EU policymakers. Of these, 156 were with Members of the European Parliament, 20 with Commissioners, and 10 with European Commission staff. The outreach involved 96 distinct organisations, with the most active being OHB, ASD-Eurospace, Airbus, Amazon Europe Core SARL, and Rasmussen Global. Available position data from meetings indicates that the Air and Space Academy expressed support for measures promoting biofuels and the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, while Leonardo signalled opposition to expanded EU competences on defence, advocating instead for greater EU-level coordination in defence industrial cooperation.
Media coverage
Media monitoring identified one relevant article from Brussels. The article outlines EU defence funding plans, including the ReArm Europe initiative and a 131-billion euro budget for resilience and defence, citing Ukraine in the context of emergency response.