The European Space Agency (ESA) is commencing 2025 with a budget of 7.68 billion euros ($7.91 billion), a slight decrease of about 1.4% compared to its 2024 allocation. This was announced by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher at a January 9 briefing. This reduction is partly attributed to decreased contributions from significant member states such as Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Approximately two-thirds of ESA’s funding originates from member states, with the remainder stemming from the European Commission, Eumetsat, and collaborative programs. While Aschbacher refrained from specifying individual member state contributions, he hinted at potential future increases, particularly from the U.K., whose 2025 contribution is notably lower than in 2024. He anticipates a budget increase in the coming weeks.
A significant event for ESA in 2025 is the ministerial conference scheduled for late November in Bremen, Germany. This conference will determine the funding levels for ESA's programs over the next three years. The agency is currently developing a comprehensive package of programs for consideration at the ministerial, including projects such as the second phase of a commercial cargo spacecraft program and the European Launcher Challenge. The ambitious Ramses mission, targeting the asteroid Apophis, is also expected to seek funding at the conference.
While Aschbacher didn’t specify the budget increase he’s seeking at the ministerial, he emphasized the need for increased European investment in space, highlighting the strategic importance of space exploration and the remarkable achievements of ESA considering its relatively smaller budget when compared to NASA and the U.S. Space Force. He stated, “Despite the difficulties that we see across Europe in all the countries, I think there is a general recognition that space is so strategic and so important for all the countries of Europe that politicians and ministers, when we come to the ESA ministerial, will recognize this importance and certainly fund the programs accordingly.”
“If you ask me for a number, of course this is a number that needs to be developed and discussed with the member states,” he said when asked at the briefing the size of the increase he would like to see at the 2025 ministerial. “We can make proposals, but funding comes from the ESA member states.”