The European Commission used the second EU Access to Space Conference in Brussels to press for autonomous European launch capability and stronger capacity as demand for satellites rises sharply. EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius framed independent access to orbit as the bloc’s top strategic objective, warning that Europe should not rely on foreign rockets for defence, government and commercial missions.
Kubilius said European launch demand could increase almost sixfold in the coming years and pointed to the need for 62 EU launches by 2034 for programmes including Galileo, Copernicus and Iris2. He linked launch autonomy to security, strategic autonomy, competitiveness and sovereignty, while stressing that Europe already has the engineering and industrial base needed to expand capacity.
He also outlined plans for a Europe-wide tour of launch sites, manufacturing facilities and test centres next year to identify bottlenecks, followed by a specific action plan on European access to space. The conference took place at the Bibliothèque Solvay on 23 September and formed part of a wider EU debate over launcher supply, launch sovereignty and pressure on Ariane 6 and future European systems.