Macron and von der Leyen call for Europe to boost space capabilities

Paris – French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged European nations on Thursday to launch a coordinated effort that would position the continent alongside the United States and China in the expanding space race. In an interview with FRANCE 24, they emphasized the need for large‑scale action across the spectrum of space activities, from satellite communications to crewed missions, and called for a unified European strategy to secure a lasting presence in orbit.

Svetla Ben‑Itzhak, an assistant professor of space and international relations at Johns Hopkins University and deputy director of the West Space Scholars Programme, noted that Europe possesses world‑class scientific and industrial capabilities and strong aspirations in space, but currently lacks the investment levels, launch frequency, operational scale, and degree of political integration that characterize the U.S. and Chinese programmes. The leaders’ appeal signals a push for increased funding, more frequent launch opportunities and deeper policy coordination among EU member states to close the gap and ensure Europe’s competitiveness in future space endeavors.