BREMEN, Germany — The proposed European Union Space Act is receiving widespread support within the European Parliament, according to one of its members, though refinements to the draft version are expected. Speaking at Space Tech Expo Europe on Nov. 20, Christophe Grudler, a French member of Parliament, noted that political groups have recently begun discussions on advancing the act, which aims to establish a unified European market for space and implement space safety and security regulations. "We have a shared view today with all the political groups," he stated, "that everybody understands that space is becoming dangerously close to a ‘far west’ scenario. You launch thousands of satellites and never mind what the others think. It’s clear we can’t continue like that."
Over 100 comments were submitted by various companies, organizations, and agencies during a consultation process concluded earlier in November. Many, particularly from American entities, criticized the bill's potential to impose “unacceptable regulatory burdens,” as the U.S. State Department put it, on American companies operating within the EU.
Grudler identified two main categories of concerns regarding the bill. "Some may reject the Space Act simply because it changes the status quo," he said, deeming this stance unacceptable. "I don’t want to discover in real life the Kessler syndrome," referring to the hypothesized cascade of orbital debris collisions that could render certain orbits unusable.
The second category of concerns originated from European governments. "A few national governments may try to defend their own national rules," he mentioned, without specifying which countries or regulations were in question. He asserted that such positions contradict the act's objective of harmonizing European space regulations. "Fragmentation is the enemy of competitiveness," he emphasized. "Most of the member states agree with the principles of the Space Act."
Grudler acknowledged that the initial draft released in June could be improved. "First, we’ll simplify the text," he said. "There are some redundancies in the text. We’ll find a better way." The release of the draft text marked only the beginning of a lengthy process for the act to become law. Grudler anticipates a first vote on the legislation in May or June of the following year, potentially leading to final adoption in 2027 and subsequently, a transition period for the new rules to take effect.
This timeline aligns with expectations shared by Rodolphe Muñoz, team leader for space situational awareness and space traffic management within the European Commission’s space directorate, during the conference on Nov. 18. Muñoz anticipated a first vote by Parliament next summer, following the release of an updated draft of the act, potentially by the end of the year.
"The idea is to be ready at the end of the decade for the application of this regulation," Grudler stated. "If companies start feeling the impact by the end of this decade, that would be great." He concluded that the act, if successful, would foster “a safer, more predictable orbital environment” with expedited authorizations for European space activities. "It will create strong European companies able to compete and export on global markets."