Fabio De Masi, a Non-Attached MEP, has asked the European Commission to assess the international legality of NASA's plan to establish a permanent base on the Moon and demarcate territory using drones. In a parliamentary question submitted on 6 June 2026, De Masi raised concerns that the US space agency's actions may violate the Moon Agreement and the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibit national appropriation of celestial bodies and require their use to be for the benefit of all countries.
De Masi's question seeks the Commission's legal opinion on whether NASA's territorial demarcation constitutes a breach of international space law. He also asks what measures the EU executive intends to take to prevent the militarisation of space and the unilateral appropriation of space resources. The MEP further inquires whether the Commission believes existing treaties are sufficient or if new multilateral mechanisms are needed.
The question reflects growing unease among some EU lawmakers about the pace of commercial and state-led space activities outpacing the legal framework. De Masi, a former member of The Left group known for his scrutiny of corporate and state power, is pressing the Commission to clarify its stance on space governance.
Under EU rules, the Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether the EU intends to take a more active role in shaping international space law or defer to existing UN mechanisms.