Space security is European security

Foreign spacecraft are already creeping up on European satellites and are even intercepting their communications. As Europe’s defence and security increasingly depend on vulnerable space infrastructure, the EPP Group is sounding the alarm and calling for stronger protection, greater resilience and clear command structures when space assets come under attack.

The Group will discuss these measures today at a public hearing, “Securing Europe’s Eyes in the Sky: The Security of EU Satellites”, bringing together space and defence experts, policy-makers and institutional actors. From banking and navigation to military operations, space infrastructure has become critical in the everyday life of European citizens.

"European satellites are being targeted today, not in some distant future. The real question is no longer whether the threat exists, but whether Europe knows who commands and who responds when its space infrastructure comes under attack. This hearing exists to demand that answer," says Hélder Sousa Silva MEP.  

"The line between civilian and military technology is vanishing. Today, a single satellite often carries both commercial data and military intelligence, transforming our space infrastructure into a high-stakes strategic target. Because Europe relies on these assets for navigation, civil protection, transport, and defence, a weakness in orbit is an immediate threat to our security on the ground. Safeguarding these systems has therefore become a critical security responsibility," Paulius Saudargas MEP continues.

Christophe Gomart MEP concludes: "Space is no longer just an industrial sector. It has become the nervous system of our armed forces and, increasingly, of our societies. Space warfare has already begun. Today, the real target is not the satellite itself, but the trust in its data. A satellite is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain behind it. Therefore, the real question is not: 'How much does space cost?' The real question is: 'How much would we lose if our space capabilities stopped working for just a few days?'"