The European Union reflects its aspiration to achieve sovereignty in critical areas of policy and technology, with space emerging as a central domain. As geopolitical tensions rise and global competition for technological dominance intensifies, European space initiatives—such as Galileo, Copernicus, and the future IRIS2—demonstrate the strategic significance of space policy for fostering technological innovation, enhancing resilience, and reinforcing European integration.

The EU’s first dedicated Space Strategy for Security and Defence explicitly ties its vision of strategic autonomy to geopolitical trends, where space capabilities are considered essential to strengthen both civilian infrastructure and military readiness. This policy evolution reflects a broader shift in European integration efforts, as space policy aligns with the EU’s overarching ambition of becoming a stronger geopolitical actor. AIA NRW Fellow Raúl González Muñoz studies the capabilities of the European space sector compared to other space faring powers like the US or China, exploring the concept of European Strategic Autonomy in the space domain.