Seven European Union member states, led by France and Germany, are pressing for a fundamental overhaul of the proposed European Space Shield, arguing that the initiative should concentrate on defending EU space infrastructure while leaving the development of military space capabilities firmly with national governments.
In a joint paper obtained by Euronews, the governments of Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden set out an alternative vision for European space security. They contend that the current proposal, launched by Brussels last year under the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, is too broad and risks duplicating existing national efforts.
“It is necessary to conceive a European space security architecture that meaningfully integrates the existing and emerging space capabilities of the member states as well as already agreed EU mechanisms and avoids unnecessary duplication,” the document states.
The signatories are particularly critical of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic arm, for failing to define the purpose and scope of the initiative despite three dedicated workshops over the past six months. They argue that the term “shield” is misleading, as it implies EU-level capability development, and they draw a clear red line around national sovereignty over military space assets.
“Beyond the name, it is essential to reiterate that the responsibility for matters of security and defence, including the procurement, operation, and defence of space systems used for security and defence purposes, lies exclusively with the member states,” the paper reads.
A narrower, more practical approach
The seven governments support EU-wide coordination of procurement for military space capabilities, but they want member states to remain in the driving seat. They advocate integrating existing and emerging national capabilities, avoiding duplication, and creating the right conditions for industry to deliver what is needed. EU institutions should support, not lead, within their own remits.
“As member states, we see an urgent need to protect and, if necessary, defend our space systems and infrastructure — including the EU space systems — against a multiplication of risks and threats, as the space domain has become a contested domain,” the paper says.
The core of the initiative, according to the signatories, should be the resilience and defence of EU space systems, while respecting national competences on defence and capability development. They also see added value in two-way exchanges between national and European authorities on threat response options, vulnerabilities and technical issues.
The paper raises several security concerns about the EU Space Programme, which the Commission has proposed as part of the next long-term EU budget. These include the growing military co-use of civilian EU programmes, the security of dual-use components, and how national efforts complement NATO. It also asks how European space services would prioritise between civilian and military uses in a crisis.
Promoting dialogue between member states’ military space authorities is another priority, as are mechanisms such as pooling and sharing to complement each other’s military space capabilities. The signatories also urge the Commission to rationalise a highly fragmented space-funding landscape, a patchwork of instruments including Horizon Europe, European Investment Bank investments and the European Defence Fund.
“We support a European Space Shield initiative – or whatever it may be called in the future – that delivers concrete added value to European security,” the document concludes.
The push comes as Europe grapples with broader security challenges, from drone incidents near military bases to the need for greater strategic autonomy. The debate over space security also intersects with other European concerns, such as France’s fiscal pressures and the continent’s ambitions in emerging technologies.
