EU achievements in space
EU achievements in space
EU flagship components delivering space-based services on a daily basis:
Copernicus
is the largest provider of global earth observation data. The majority of data available and accessible to any citizen and any organisation around the world on a free, full and open basis.
- 7 Copernicus satellites in orbit in 2022
- 160 000 registered users of the Copernicus Climate Change Service had access to about 76 terabytes of quality-controlled climate data per day
- Estimation: benefits from the EU’s Copernicus programme will reach € 35 billion by 2030
Galileo
is Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): it’s free and its global 20cm high accuracy service makes it a game changer for autonomous driving and commercial drones.
- 28 Galileo satellites in orbit in 2022
- 3.8 billion Galileo-enabled devices were in use in 2022
- Estimation: EU-related Galileo and EGNOS programmes will generate socio-economic benefits of around EUR 60-90 billion over the next 20 years
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS)
is Europe’s regional satellite-based augmentation system and operates in more than 400 airports and helipads.
EGNOS was deployed to provide safety of life navigation services to aviation and is a support application for maritime, rail, agriculture and road.
GOVSATCOM
ensures the long-term availability of reliable, secured and cost-effective satellite communication services to governmental users, contributing to the security and safety of all European Union citizens.
Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST)
enhances capabilities for purposes such as monitoring space objects and space debris and providing space weather services.
Europe’s new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection and Security by Satellites (IRIS2)
The future multi-orbit constellation will provide:
- secure satellite communications services for governmental use, such as critical infrastructure protection and crisis management
- connectivity to the whole of Europe, including areas without broadband internet, through a commercial service
EU space in numbers
2021-2027 EU space budget
Financial programming = EUR 1.44 billion
Contributions from other countries and entities = EUR 0.22 billion
2022 EU space business
- Direct industry employment 57 822 FTE (+8%)
- The European space industry registered sales of EUR 8.25 billion
What are space technologies already used for?
- Research and development
- Communication and the digital economy (smartphones, satellite communications, Internet of Things, etc)
- Climate change and environmental monitoring (water management, air quality, ozone layer, etc)
- Search and rescue (sea, mountains, urban areas, etc)
- Traffic and transport (landing of airplanes, road safety, navigation systems, etc)
- Security and defence (border and maritime surveillance, etc.)
- Agriculture and fisheries (precision farming, crop development, fishery stocks, monitoring of droughts, etc)
- Monitoring and responding to natural disasters (earthquakes, forest fires, floods, etc.)
Source: European Commission
More information:
Last review: 5 February 2025