The European space branch consists of several players. In their different roles, they contribute to develop and deliver European services to the citizens. The space branch in Europe was established on national level, while for the huge research programmes, the European nations joined forces in the European Space Agency (ESA). With increasing relevance of space applications for the citizens and governments, the European Union as the highest political actor in Europe becomes the leading authority in the European space sector. Since 2021, the political framework of the space programmes of EU and the role of the stakeholders is defined in the EU Space Regulation.
European Commission with its Directorate-General (DG), in particular DG Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS) and DG CONNECT, the supranational level is represented. The Commission provides the strategies, political guidelines and regulations for the space branch and the EU economy. To foster the development of the necessary technologies, funding programmes are created by the Commission for different stages of the technological development.
In EU, several EU agencies and entities are involved in the space branch. Depending on their role in the EU framework, they represent users of space applications and services, shape the funding programmes and EU policies, manage and operate the services or the research and development projects.
- EUSPA – EU Agency for the Space Progamme
- SATCEN – EU Satellite Centre
- EDA – European Defence Agency
- Users: EEAS, FRONTEX, EMSA, EFCA, EUROCONTROL, EUROPOL, etc.
The European Space Agency (ESA) represents the international level in the space branch, where the ESA member states – which are not fully coherent with the EU member states – collaborate in funding programmes for technological research and development as well as space science and exploration.
The Member States of EU and ESA are represented by their national space agencies and ministries. The responsibilities and collaboration between the national entities depend on the member state. Typically, the national space agency represents and coordinates all space related aspects of the country, involving the government and its ministries and agencies, such as Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Digital Economy or Ministry of Defense.
The space industry is the core of the space economy, consisting of companies which create a wide range of products and services. From the manufacturers of satellites, rockets and the ground segment, the suppliers of parts, operators of satellites, providers of space services to resellers of services, the industry is segmented into several sub-branches.
Another part of the space economy are private investors and insurance companies.