European Union

"We are prepared for the fact that Russia has a certain desire to disrupt the West with such drones," Hakkanen said

The conservative chancellor pledged to put Germany back on a “growth trajectory” but said that it was a "collective mission" that needed all ministries on deck

Growers want Brussels to make rice origin labelling mandatory, while MEPs are pushing to extend the rule to all farm products

EU's competition chief cautioned against the bloc rolling back on legislative initiatives or backtracking on existing rules at an event on Tuesday

Irish government and drug industry settle into price negotiations at a commercially and politically sensitive moment

The three capitals have teamed up to shape the upcoming EU Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act

New direct-to-patient platforms promise lower costs but remain limited to cash-paying users

So far, six NATO allies have pledged a combined $2.07 billion in military support for Ukraine

Earlier this month, an Italian court ordered that another Ukrainian arrested over the sabotage should be extradited to Germany to face charges

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently pursuing three major fraud cases in Greece

When asked about the matter, a European Commission source told Euractiv that they could not disclose the name of the company at this stage of the investigation

"We are starting to doubt ourselves," said a keynote speaker

Within hours of the US proposal, Brussels and EU capitals supported the ceasefire prospect and reiterated its backing for a two-state solution

Amir Khan wants to build a legacy outside the ring as a boxing promoter as he brings a professional fight night to Nigeria.

Written by Stefano De Luca and Clément Evroux.

Satellite services play a key role across our economies – from enabling Earth observation to ensuring the resilience of several sectors such as mobility, finance and defence – thanks to navigation, timing and positioning systems. In the future, they are expected increasingly to provide connectivity services, including coverage in remote areas and secure connectivity for public authorities.

This situation comes with a set of threats and challenges. While the number of satellites in orbit is growing exponentially, to more than 10 000 in 2024, the congestion of orbits increases the risk of disruption through collision. In addition, geopolitical tensions are materialising in space, highlighting countries’ satellite sovereign capabilities and cybersecurity risks there. On the one hand, the weaponisation of the space domain adds further pressure to the risks of space congestion. On the other hand, space systems also face challenges on Earth, as they are underpinned by a complex supply chain, which requires sourcing of both raw materials and several technological components – from chips to launchers.

Against this backdrop, the EU is harnessing its space policy to develop, deploy and curate its space assets to deliver key services: positioning navigation and timing (Galileo), Earth observation (Copernicus), and secure connectivity (IRIS²). The EU’s space policy also relies on the single market and EU industrial policy to ensure a resilient space supply chain, as well as space industry competitiveness. The proposed EU space act is an important step in this regard.   

This briefing outlines the basics of satellite functioning and functionalities, presents the main challenges the EU space sector faces and the main EU space initiatives, and identifies possible related EU policy developments.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Satellites: State of play and challenges for the EU’ Initiative‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The watchdog said Red.es unfairly favoured contracts for entrepreneur Carlos Barrabés, a businessman linked to Sánchez’s wife

A civil society group has raised concerns about who is writing AI standards for the EU's flagship AI Act

Months of talks collapsed over how to codify Europe’s diverse döner traditions

This is part of a package of measures including an arms embargo on Israel aimed at halting what Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called "the genocide in Gaza"

With the world on track to 3°C of warming by the end of this century, the scientific community and a growing number of institutions are exploring climate technologies that could reduce the worst impacts of global warming.