Key facts
- Europe's reliance on the U.S. for space access was highlighted at a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
- The summit concluded without major public funding announcements to boost European space capabilities.
- SpaceX and other U.S. companies withdrew from the event following White House pressure.
- European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher proposed a €1 billion annual investment over 10 years for independent astronaut missions.
- Industry groups requested at least €60 billion for the sector in the EU's 2028-2034 budget.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed €131 billion for defense, security, and space.
The international space summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on September 10-11, 2026, aimed to showcase Europe's commitment to its space sector. However, the event concluded with observers noting a lack of sufficient public investment to reduce reliance on the U.S. for space access. While billions in new partnerships and investments were announced by various companies on the sidelines, the summit failed to deliver the substantial public funding pledges needed for European autonomy in space.
Several U.S. companies, including SpaceX, withdrew from the summit days before it began, reportedly due to White House pressure and concerns about France's "anti-competitive practices." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also skipped the event. French officials downplayed these absences, emphasizing the summit's role in prompting Europe to enhance its space capabilities. However, some participants expressed disappointment with the unclear goals and the lack of political commitments for increased public investment from countries beyond France.
Ezequiel Sánchez, executive president of PLD Space, described his feelings as mixed, noting that while the summit was a "good idea," its "implementation" was flawed, and expectations for a significant announcement were unmet. The issue of public funding was a central theme, with Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, urging member states to invest €1 billion per year for the next decade to enable Europe to send astronauts into space independently of NASA. Aschbacher framed the decision as a choice between being "passengers or pilots."
On the first day, industry associations from France, Germany, and Italy collectively called for the EU to allocate at least €60 billion to the space sector in its upcoming 2028-2034 budget. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Commission's proposal includes €131 billion for defense, security, and space. President Macron advocated for autonomous European space missions, supported by a budget matching Europe's ambitions, though he did not specify sums.
Despite the absence of new public funding announcements, the summit produced three technical declarations concerning the Copernicus program, space-based scientific data, and radio satellite frequency allocation, alongside a call for a more ambitious European space policy. The low attendance of heads of state and government was interpreted by some as a lack of full backing for Macron's initiative. Gilles Rabin, a former official at France's space agency CNES, suggested that Macron's limited remaining term in office may have also impacted the summit's long-term influence, calling it "Macron’s final wishes regarding space, his European testament."