In 2025, the Estonian Presidency of the European Initiative for Space Cooperation (EISC) focused on the theme of “Security in Space: Europe’s Challenges and Opportunities.” Gathering 15 member parliaments from across Europe, EISC activities in 2025 revolved around three primary events:
- (April) ESPI-organised webinar for Members of Parliament and staff from EISC member parliaments, providing background information on key trends and developments in the use of space for security & defence.
- (April) The spring workshop held at the Tartu Observatory, providing a platform for delegations to engage with issues surrounding security and defence in space and exchange on ideas and experiences from their respective national ecosystems.
- (September) The EISC Plenary Session held at the Estonian Parliament, Riigikogu, in Tallinn, EISC delegations to emphasise the growing importance of space for security and defence activities, embodied in the adopted EISC Resolution.
Read the Resolution of the 2025 Estonian EISC Presidency here
Read the public proceedings of the 2025 Estonian EISC Presidency here
Discussions at these events covered a broad range of topics, including:
- the need for European strategic culture to recognise the strong connection between defence and space, and the value of value of dual-use space technologies,
- the necessity of moving beyond traditional procurement models,
- the criticality of enhanced cyber resilience of Europe’s space assets.
Additionally, 2025 marked the first full Presidency of EISC with the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) serving as the formal Secretariat of EISC, as outlined in the updated EISC Statutes of 2024. ESPI also fostered greater impact and visibility of EISC in Europe’s space policy discourse, inviting EISC Presidency to a number of key European conferences, including the European Space Conference, the European Resilience from Space Conference in Brussels, as well as the 19th ESPI Autumn Conference.
ESPI is proud to support EISC and reinforce the voice of European parliamentarians in promoting the strategic value of space for Europe’s security and prosperity.
Following the 2025 Estonian Presidency, the 2026 Presidency will be held by Spain.
Established in 1999 as a permanent forum for inter-parliamentary cooperation in space between the European national parliaments interested in space policy, it aims at facilitating the exchange of information on space activities and at promoting mutual understanding of national policies through the provision of a forum for analysing the major issues at stake in the European space sector. This forum is supported by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
ESPI-EISC contact: James Francis (james.francis@espi.eu)
