Space infrastructure is no longer relevant only for exploration and science but has become a core pillar of European sovereignty, security and economic competitiveness, experts said on Wednesday during the high-level conference “EU Space Days 2026” in Nicosia.
The discussion took place during the second day of the conference, co-organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) and the Cyprus Space Office under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The panel, titled “Space Infrastructure in EU Member States”, examined how Earth Observation systems, satellite navigation, secure connectivity and access-to-space capabilities support the EU’s ability to make sovereign decisions in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
Moderating the discussion, Christina Giannopapa of the EU Agency for the Space Programme said space infrastructure is now embedded in everyday life and central to Europe’s strategic autonomy.
“Space is no longer important only because of exploration and science,” she said. “It is also a critical infrastructure for our society, our economy, and our safety and security.”
The panel focused on how Member States can develop sustainable space infrastructure despite high costs and long investment cycles.
Duarte Cota of the Portuguese Space Agency said sustainability should be viewed beyond financial returns, highlighting Portugal’s plans for a spaceport in the Azores as part of a wider European access-to-space network. He stressed the need for flexible, interoperable and multipurpose infrastructure and greater cooperation with the defence sector.
From Cyprus, Dr. Sotiris Alexandrou of CYTA underlined the importance of European programmes in helping smaller countries participate in the global space market.
“Space is an expensive activity. Collaboration is the key, especially for smaller countries,” he said, adding that developing capabilities helps build trust and a long-term customer base.
Emiliano Agosta, Technical Director at Spaceopal, highlighted governance challenges, stressing that strategy, operational coordination and technological evolution must work together. He also argued that systems such as Galileo are essential for European strategic autonomy.
“Europe must own the layers, not only the satellites, but also the software and the intelligence behind them,” he said.
Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis of the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence emphasised the economic value of Earth Observation investments and the importance of initiatives such as Copernicus in reducing dependence on non-European data sources.
