Conference on Disarmament - SB3 - EU Statement on PAROS

European Union Statement in Subsidiary Body 3 

Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space

Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 13 February 2025

Mr. Coordinator,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova[1] as well as the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

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.

The EU remains committed to preserving the safety, security, and sustainability of outer space for all. 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 recognize that space is a global commons to be used for the benefit of all. 

Ensuring space security and preventing an arms race in outer space, including preventing outer space from becoming an area of conflict, are crucial to safeguard 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. 

We are of the view that the goal of PAROS is best achieved through a combination of instruments and measures be those legally binding instruments or other norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviour. While reaffirming the importance of developing effective and verifiable legally binding instruments, the objective of PAROS can be supported in a pragmatic and immediate way, through norms of responsible behaviours in outer space.

In relation to the topic of our debate today,we encourage all states to continue working on developing norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour building on the work advanced in the Open Ended Working Group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours (OEWG). 

In addition, we believe that transparency and confidence-building measures can contribute to increase trust, transparency and predictability of space activities and prevent misunderstandings and misperceptions.

Mr. Coordinator,

The EU reaffirms the applicability of international law to outer space, including the United Nations Charter, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and other relevant UN treaties on outer space, as well as international humanitarian law and 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 highlight the obligations of the Outer Space Treaty, in particular those contained in Article IV that obliges the State Parties not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner. We underline the importance of the universalisation of the Outer Space Treaty for the preservation of a secure, safe and sustainable outer space environment for present and future generations, and we call upon all UN Member States to accede to it.

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 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.

Moreover, 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.

Mr. Coordinator,

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 as well as the generation of multiple collateral space debris, and the risk of escalation. The EU strongly condemned the Russian Federation’s destructive test of a direct-ascent ASAT missile against its own satellite in 2021, as a clear act of irresponsible behaviour in outer space. 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. We encourage all states to make such commitment as soon as possible, welcoming increasing support for UN General Assembly Resolution 77/41. 

Moreover, in-orbit rendez-vous operations and proximity operations and 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.

In closing, 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, we welcome the creation of a new Open-Ended Working Group on PAROS in all its aspects and hope the working group will be fully operational as soon as possible.The EU remains committed to enhancing outer space security through a pragmatic approach, recognizing that political commitments on responsible behaviours can be developed in support of, and without prejudice to, the pursuit of legally binding measures and instruments. The EU reiterates the importance of an inclusive format and a multi-stakeholder approach including engagement with international organisations, commercial actors, and civil society representatives, when addressing space threats to international peace and security.

I thank you, Mr. Coordinator.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.