Europe's space future in focus at the International Space Summit
The International Space Summit, taking place in Paris, France, on 9 and 10 September, will bring together world leaders, ministers, industry representatives, and astronauts at a pivotal moment for the future of space. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher will invite European leaders to reflect on the role Europe wishes to play in the next era of space exploration and the level of ambition needed to help shape it.
During the Summit's exploration session on the evening of 9 September, Aschbacher will underline that human activity in low Earth orbit is entering a new phase, the Moon is becoming a destination for sustained operations, and the foundations for future missions to Mars are already being laid. He will stress that capabilities developed today will determine who participates, who influences decisions, and who helps shape the future architecture of human presence beyond Earth, with implications far beyond exploration itself for Europe's economy, technological leadership, security, and long-term competitiveness.
Aschbacher will present a practical pathway for securing Europe's future in exploration while inviting leaders to determine the degree of commitment Europe wishes to make. He said: "The European Space Agency has a pivotal role to play: giving Europe the capabilities, technologies and confidence to think bigger, move faster and pursue its own ambitions." The ESA's role is to provide technically sound, scalable, and affordable options, while strategic direction belongs to Member States, including pathways that strengthen Europe's autonomy in space transportation and exploration while preserving international partnerships.
The Summit comes ahead of several important milestones: ESA's Intermediate Ministerial Meeting in Rome in December 2026, adoption of the European Union's next Multiannual Financial Framework, and ESA's next Council at Ministerial Level in 2028. These will shape Europe's role and competitiveness for decades. The Summit will also bring together foreign delegations at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside his Special Envoys, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet and entrepreneur Hélène Huby.