Conference on Disarmament - EU Statement in Subsidiary Body 3 - Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space

European Union

Conference on Disarmament

Statement in Subsidiary Body 3 

Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space

Geneva, 20 August 2026

President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

The European Union and its Member States thank you for convening this debate and for the opportunity to address this topic in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament in order to contribute to enriching our collective understanding on this vital issue.

We also thank Ambassador Foradori for his presentation and all the work done as the Chair of the OEWG on PAROS in all its aspects. Rest assured that the EU and its Member States will continue their active engagement in the dedicated open ended working group. 

The EU and its Member States recognise outer space as a global commons, to be used for the benefit of all humankind. Preventing an arms race in outer space including preventing uncontrolled escalation in outer space from becoming an area of conflict is crucial to safeguard the access, safety and security and the long-term use of the space environment for peaceful purposes. The EU and its Member States remain strongly committed to the overarching objective of preventing an arms race in outer space in all its aspects. 

The increasing reliance on space-based services, including civilian and humanitarian services, and other critical functions underscores the importance of maintaining outer space as a peaceful domain, contributing to progress on crucial global issues such as achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

We consider that the goal of PAROS in all its aspects is achievable through a combination of legally binding and non-legally binding complementary resolutions, instruments and measures. Given the rapid development and evolution of technology in this field, while reaffirming the ultimate goal of developing verifiable future agreements on legally binding instruments, the EU and its Member States believe that developing norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours is the most pragmatic and immediate way forward to contribute to PAROS in all its aspects.

Developing norms, rules and principles does not prevent the creation of legally binding instruments. The two pathways are complementary.

The EU reaffirms the applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law, to outer space as stipulated by Article III of the Outer Space Treaty (OST), including the United Nations Charter, and other relevant UN treaties on outer space as well as consensual principles developed in the UN framework. The Outer Space Treaty, as well as the guiding principles developed in the UN framework constitute the cornerstone of the global governance in outer space. We urge all states which have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Outer Space Treaty without further delay.

Promoting trust among States is an essential prerequisite for the development and strengthening of legally binding instruments. Strict compliance with international space law, and first and foremost the Outer Space Treaty, is foundational to build this necessary trust. In this regard, we strongly support the implementation of Transparency and Confidence Building Measures (TCBMs) discussed and agreed upon in the 2013 GGE report, and we welcome the new report of the UN Secretary General on their implementation, ten years after their adoption.

Sharing information on space launch vehicle programmes, including prelaunch notifications, is already established practice under the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC). The EU and its Member States encourage all States to subscribe to the HCoC and to fully implement its provisions. Additionally, we support the UNIDIR Space Security Portal, which contributes to improved information sharing and capacity building for States seeking to enhance their space security frameworks.

President,

The EU remains deeply concerned about the multiplication of ambiguous, unfriendly or hostile activities in outer space and underline the importance of addressing such developments promptly and as part of international efforts to prevent threats to space systems. Among the most urgent threats are destructive direct ascent anti-satellite missile tests, the harmful effects of which can be the destruction of the targeted satellite, the generation of multiple long-lived collateral space debris, and an increased risk of escalation. 

We welcome the commitments, as a norm of responsible behaviour, made so far by 38 UN Member States, including all EU Member States, not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests as contained in UN General Assembly resolution 77/41. We encourage all states to make such commitment as soon as possible. 

Moreover, rendez-vous and proximity operations and any corresponding technologies that affect another state’s space system can be perceived as a threat when the intention behind the manoeuvre is not properly communicated in advance. 

Non-kinetic threats to space systems and services such as cyberattacks, jamming and other electromagnetic interferences or direct energy weapons, should also be considered irresponsible when they jeopardise the security of people, goods and services, whether on Earth or in space.

The EU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the field of space security, advancing the development of norms, rules and principles that promote responsible behaviour in outer space, and supporting the efforts of the international community in preventing an arms race in space. In this context the EU and its member states will actively participate in the upcoming sessions of the Open-Ended Working Group on PAROS in all its aspects and hope the discussions in the working group will develop results. 

In closing the EU reiterates the importance of an inclusive format and a multi-stakeholder approach including engagement with international organisations, commercial actors, civil society representatives and academia, when addressing space threats to international peace and security.

I thank you, President