EU Statement at the 68th Session of the UN COPUOS on Space2030 Agenda, 27 June 2025

Chair, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Armenia, and Ukraine.

Chair, 

The EU and its Member States support the Space2030 Agenda, and its contribution to the achievement of all 17 SDGs. 

The EU welcomes the Space2030 Agenda’s objective of promoting inclusiveness and gender equality in space activities, notably by enhancing women’s participation in science. 

We acknowledge that space as a driver for sustainable development is important to many countries and we reaffirm our commitment to developing partnerships with countries in particular developing countries, to maximise the benefits generated by the development of the space sector.

The EU was pleased to contribute to the mid-term review of the Space2030 Agenda by reporting on its key activities, including the EU Space Programme efforts, and capacity-building activities under the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy. 

EU Space Programme components such as GALILEO, EGNOS, and Copernicus benefit millions of users both within the EU an in third countries. The EU also supports an increasing community of users across the globe for space safety in the area of collision avoidance.

Copernicus, the Earth Observation component, plays a crucial role in strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerabilities to natural disasters and supporting climate adaptation, food security and environmental protection within the EU and in third countries, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Regional Copernicus centres are based in Chile and Panama, alongside a national Copernicus data centre in the Philippines.

Another landmark EU initiative under the Global Gateway is the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, launched earlier this year. It supports Africa’s space ambitions, as outlined in the African Space Policy. The programme is implemented by the African Space Agency, the African Union Commission, the Agence pour la sécurité de la navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar, and the European Space Agency. 

A total amount of 100 million euros will be invested in this initiative, with 45 million already been committed, to enhance collaboration between the EU and Africa in space technologies, services, and applications. By increasing the uptake of space-based data and fostering institutional and private sector capacity, the programme will empower African countries to address pressing societal challenges.

We were honoured to present this programme at a side event organised by Morocco on the occasion of its COPUOS chairmanship last Thursday, 26 June.

Thank you.