On 26 May 2026, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, in a welcome speech at the EU Space Days hosted by the Cyprus Presidency, called for Europe to take a leading role in the rapidly expanding space economy and announced plans for a European space shield. Kubilius highlighted the need for Europe to 'get serious about defence of space and space for defence' and said he would present an action plan for a European space shield, outlining space capabilities for defence and governmental users, pooling national capacities alongside dedicated European capacities.
Kubilius praised the Cyprus Presidency for advancing key space policies, including the Space Act and a proposal for Defence and Space in the European Competitiveness Fund in the next multi-annual EU budget. He noted that the space economy is set to triple in size over the next decade, with companies investing a record 1.5 billion euros in space — a more than 55 percent increase. Downstream markets for Earth observation and satellite navigation are expected to more than double to 580 billion euros by 2033, according to the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
Kubilius expressed his ambition for European companies to capture large parts of the space economy, benefiting citizens on Earth. He cited existing EU initiatives such as Cassini to accelerate private investment and promised even more support for space companies in the next multi-annual budget. On defence, he stressed the need for strong and secure satellite communication, navigation, and observation to counter threats such as drones, noting progress with Galileo Public Regulated Service, IRIS2, and rapid mapping through Copernicus.
The speech contained concrete proposals, including the upcoming action plan for a European space shield, but lacked specific numerical targets or deadlines. The policy orientation is towards increasing EU investment and strategic autonomy in space, both for economic competitiveness and defence. The speech did not address any opposition or divergent views, as it was a welcome address to the space community.
Importance score: 65 — The speech outlines significant policy directions for EU space and defence, but as a welcome address it lacks detailed commitments. The announcement of a space shield action plan is notable, but the speech primarily reaffirms existing priorities.