BREMEN, Germany — The European Space Agency (ESA) concluded the initial day of a crucial ministerial conference with an upbeat sentiment regarding the advancement in securing financial support for the upcoming three years, even amidst certain cautionary signals. Speaking briefly to reporters on November 26, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher expressed satisfaction with the headway member states were making in committing to the agency's proposed program package, though specifics were limited. "It’s too early to make any conclusions," he stated, "but I think we’re on good track."
Approximately 80% of ESA's proposed budget is derived from optional programs funded by member states through subscriptions. Throughout the two-day ministerial conference, member states have several opportunities, conducted behind closed doors, to formally pledge their commitment to these programs. "There are some countries who are putting a little more in the beginning, and some others a bit less at the beginning," Aschbacher noted, without specifying the countries or amounts. "The mood is very positive," he added. "There is a very good spirit, and I think we are on a very good track. But I don’t want to speculate on what comes out tomorrow.”
His remarks followed the public opening session of the ministerial event, where he officially presented a 22.254 billion euro ($25.8 billion) proposal for the next three years. His speech emphasized various aspects of the proposal, spanning science and exploration, space transportation, and European Resilience from Space (ERS), a new initiative focused on security. He argued that the budget is essential for Europe to address a variety of challenges. "We face a perfect storm, a perfect storm that demands courageous decisions," he said. "Do we truly believe that these crises are only temporary disruptions, and do we really want to retreat to narrow, exclusively national solutions that may feel simpler but leave us all weaker?" he said later. He urged support for ESA’s programs. “When Europe unites, Europe succeeds.”
Subsequently, ESA's 23 member states, along with several associate and cooperating states, delivered opening statements. Many voiced strong support for the proposal and a willingness to back their words with financial contributions. Diana Morant, Spain’s minister of science and innovation, announced that Spain would increase its ESA contribution by 50% compared to the 2022 ministerial, increasing from around 300 million euros annually to 450 million euros. This increase, she explained, reflects "how strategically important space is and the importance of our work through ESA.”
Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, affirmed that Canada would make a "historic investment" in ESA programs. Canada, as a cooperating state, will contribute 407.7 million euros over three years, including 352.5 million euros for optional programs, up from 98 million euros at the 2022 ministerial. “This investment will enable our country to contribute to important ESA missions directly benefiting Canadian industry and allowing it to grow and diversify,” she said. This includes work in satellite communications, exploration, navigation and space situational awareness.
Several other smaller nations also announced plans to increase their financial support for ESA. Matevž Frangež, Slovenia’s state secretary for internationalization, stated that his country would double its contribution of approximately 20 million euros over three years, a commitment made at the 2022 ministerial. However, some countries added caveats to their planned contributions. “Netherlands is currently operating under a so-called ‘caretaker government,’ which calls for financial restraint,” said Vincent Karremans, the country’s minister of economic affairs. He said that the country would increase its contribution by 110 million euros, or nearly 25%, from 2022. “Given the current political and financial situation in the Netherlands, we propose an exceptional measure,” he said, making that increase conditional on formal government approval by the end of January.
Belgium also requested additional time. “Belgium has decided to make a particular and an exceptional budget effort in the context of this ministerial council. However, I do require a bit more time to make that additional contribution official,” said Vanessa Matz, minister of modernization of the public administration. She did not disclose how much Belgium, which committed nearly 1 billion euros in 2022, would add, but said 16% of its planned contribution “remains subject to confirmation” by the end of January.
Earlier in the day, Aschbacher mentioned that subscriptions to ERS would remain open for a year after the ministerial, in contrast to other programs, whose funding will be finalized by the close of the conference on November 27. "For many countries, we have been discussing this with their ministries of defense and, for them, this is something of a new approach," he explained. "It’s probably late in the process to now switch budgets from classical defense spending into ESA, so there’s more work to be done in the next months.” He noted the one-year extension is “quite unique” and does not apply to other ESA programs. “I think it leaves us also the chance to keep discussing, and also maybe collecting some more funds as well throughout next year.”
This extension raised questions regarding the ability of ERS to maintain ESA's previously established schedule, which aimed to complete the initial prototype satellites for its proposed imaging constellation by 2028. At the end of the day, Aschbacher called the extension a “positive step” for ERS. “We want to keep it open to collect more money in addition to what we get today,” he said. ESA, he added, would still be able to begin the spacecraft projects with funding committed at the ministerial and augment it later.