The EU Council has issued a corrigendum to a draft decision authorising the signing and conclusion of an agreement with Iceland, paving the way for the country's formal participation in the GOVSATCOM component of the EU Space Programme and the EU Secure Connectivity Programme (IRIS²). The correction, published on 10 February 2026, fixes three technical errors in the legal text ahead of the Council's adoption scheduled for 11 February 2026. Once adopted, the decision will enable the formal signing of the agreement and subsequently require the European Parliament's consent for its conclusion.
Corrigendum fixes clerical errors before adoption
The corrigendum amends an earlier Council document by correcting the date of a prior Council meeting, adding a missing conjunction ("and") between the two programme names to clarify the scope, and updating the name of the relevant Council working party consulted from "European Economic Area" to "European Free Trade Association". These changes ensure the legal text is accurate before final adoption.
Agreement deepens EU-Iceland cooperation in secure satellite communications
The underlying bilateral agreement establishes the legal framework for Iceland's participation in GOVSATCOM and IRIS², two flagship EU programmes providing secure satellite communication services for governmental use. The agreement covers Iceland's financial contributions, involvement in governance structures, and access to secure services. This move formally integrates a closely associated non-EU state into critical EU space and security infrastructure, enhancing operational coherence and shared security within the European continent.
Impact on stakeholders
- EU institutions: The Council advances the legislative procedure by correcting the text and preparing for adoption, while the European Parliament will later be asked to give its consent, exercising its treaty role in international agreements. - Icelandic authorities: Once ratified, Iceland will gain access to EU secure satellite services for governmental purposes, strengthening its national security and crisis management capabilities. - EU satellite operators and industry: The inclusion of Iceland may expand the user base and potentially increase demand for secure communication services, though the financial contributions from Iceland could offset some costs. - EU taxpayers: The agreement may lead to modest additional financial contributions from Iceland, reducing the net burden on EU taxpayers for these programmes.
Institutional follow-up
Following the Council's adoption on 11 February 2026, the agreement will be formally signed. The Council will then transmit the decision to the European Parliament, which must give its consent before the agreement can be concluded and enter into force.
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