Time: Monday, 01/Sept/2025: 2:00pm - 3:30pm Session Chair: Thomas Hoerber |
Space Policy
This panel synthesizes research on the evolving landscape of space policy, law and governance, highlighting emerging trends and strategic approaches, as well as the roles of both emerging and established space actors. The presentations will cover a range of topics: new space actors, such as Iceland, carving out niches within the global space industry, by contributing to fields like Earth observation, climate monitoring, and space technology testing; the European Union's efforts to create a resilient and competitive space sector through its Space Program, and to increase its efficiency and effectiveness through specific short-term actions; the anticipatory science diplomacy as mean to foster international cooperation; the complexities of jurisdictional governance in outer space.
By integrating diverse perspectives and a variety of disciplines, the panel will highlight challenges and opportunities within the global space ecosystem, emphasizing the need for robust legal frameworks, sustainable practices, and collaborative efforts to ensure the continued growth and resilience of the space sector.
Presentations of the Symposium
A Framework Analysis on the Space Sector in Iceland
The Icelandic space sector, while nascent, holds significant potential within the global space ecosystem. This research comprehensively analyses Iceland's emerging role in space activities, emphasising its unique geographic, environmental, and policy-based advantages. By examining existing infrastructure, policy frameworks, and international collaborations, this study identifies the challenges and opportunities for Iceland to carve out a niche in the global space industry.
Key findings highlight Iceland's strategic location for polar satellite tracking, its pristine environment for astrobiological research, and its geothermal energy resources as critical enablers for sustainable space-related projects. Furthermore, the paper explores the regulatory and institutional gaps in Iceland's space policy and offers recommendations for fostering innovation and attracting international partnerships.
Through a framework analysis, this study evaluates Iceland's alignment with global trends in space exploration and its potential to contribute to fields such as Earth observation, climate monitoring, and space technology testing. This work underscores the need for strategic investments and policy adaptations to ensure Iceland's active participation in the rapidly evolving space economy.
Strengthening Resiliency in Space: EU’s Recent Initiatives and Vision
The European Union has progressively realised the importance of creating a resilient Europe capable of preventing, tackling and limiting the effects of natural and man-made threats and attacks or, more generally, disruption of various kind. More recently, several EU regulatory interventions in multiple areas of interest have been reflecting this need. Among these, the space sector emerges. In this field, the Union has embarked on a process of restructuring its activities on several fronts, starting with the unification of almost all of its space initiatives launched until 2021 into one large space programme and the establishment of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). One of the objectives of this process is to make the EU a stronger and more competitive, both regionally and internationally, player but also a secure and resilient actor. This paper aims to present come of my doctoral research’s results on the topic, focusing on the EU’s more recent approach towards resiliency in the space sector.
Enhancing EU-Emerging Space Nations Collaboration through Anticipatory Science and Space Diplomacy
Anticipatory science diplomacy can help transform relationships and create refreshed and refocused ideas for enhancing collaboration and innovation between the EU and space nations that are developing their space programs. The EU can strengthen its strategic position by using anticipatory approaches to solve particular space diplomacy challenges, such as geopolitical tensions and technological disparities (Pellegrino and Stang 2016). According to Sabzalieva et al. (2021), stakeholders can use this framework to identify potential risks and partnership prospects as demonstrated through their scientific cooperation agreement analysis. By highlighting the significance of jointly creating standards and procedures that advance security and sustainability in space, the idea of anticipatory governance enables flexible tactics in global collaborations (Guston 2014). The crucial interaction between scientific innovation and security is demonstrated by the case studies pertaining to science diplomacy initiatives (Araújo-Moreira, Serrano, and Migon 2022; Young et al. 2020). Additionally, the discussion of scientific imaginaries emphasizes how cooperative efforts can improve public trust in addition to technological breakthroughs (Robinson 2021). As a result, adopting anticipatory science diplomacy can spur increased collaboration and, in the end, help the EU and emerging space nations become more resilient in negotiating the challenges of space governance (Slann 2016; Bensalah 2024).
The Evolution of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in Support of the EU Space Activities
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has undergone significant changes since its creation as Galileo Joint Undertaking, and recently with the evolution from European GNSS Agency (GSA) implemented with the approval of the EU Space Regulation (EU) 2021/696. In particular, the evolution to EUSPA came with an expanded mandate that requires the Agency to contribute to several components of the EU Space Programme, such as Galileo, Copernicus, EGNOS, SSA, and GOVSATCOM; furthermore, the IRIS2 Regulation (EU) 2023/588 also includes tasks for the Agency. Additionally, EUSPA is facing ongoing changes in its environment that have and/or will impact its operations.
In light of the ongoing changes in EUSPA’s external environment, it is important to constantly assess the position of the Agency within the ecosystem to continue being well-equipped in order to continue to deliver value to its stakeholders. Therefore, EUSPA has undertaken a study to examine the current standing of the Agency and to identify potential scenarios for further evolution with a focus on: an analysis of the environment in which EUSPA operates; the identification of key trends; an assessment of the current performance of the Agency; an identification of the main expectations of our stakeholders; an identification of possible development scenarios in the short term and the long term; the identification of concrete actions as part of the Agencies constant improvement motto “We deliver for the EU”.
The study focused on how to best prepare EUSPA to continue to fulfil its mission as the user-oriented operational Agency for the EU Space Programme. It is noted that the evolution of the Agency is to be decided by the Council and the European Parliament, upon proposal of the European Commission. Nevertheless, the Agency must be ready for the approach to be decided by the co-legislators. The study conducted focuses on preparing the Agency by identifying a set of short-term actions targeting to improve its effectiveness and efficiency to ensure it continues to successfully undertake its current mandate, independently of any future decisions which may be taken on the direction of the Agency moving forward.
The overall aim of this paper is to present the results of the study conducted and set out the corporate strategy scenarios and short term actions for an effective and efficient Agency delivering for the EU in the 2035 horizon.
Beyond Earth: Addressing Jurisdictional Gaps and Dispute Resolution
Jurisdictional governance in outer space has been extensively discussed by scholars, who often highlight its complexity, as well as the inadequacies of the current international legal framework in addressing potential space disputes. Building on the author's previous publication, this paper delves into key jurisdictional challenges, including disputes between states, states and individuals, and individuals themselves.
Initially, the paper provides an overview of existing international jurisdictions, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses in managing disputes within their respective domains. This analysis aims to determine to what extent these jurisdictions could serve as a model for establishing an international space court. Subsequently, the paper compares international jurisdictions with international arbitration as mechanisms for resolving space disputes and discusses the emerging proposals in this domain.
Given the inherent limitations of diplomatic negotiations in case of international disputes, which often rely on political leverage, this paper seeks to provide policy recommendations to enhance the existing legal framework. The current challenges in achieving international consensus, which open the doors to an increasing number of unilateral initiatives, urge to find incentives to make space actors converge towards a reliable dispute settlement mechanism. By addressing these jurisdictional issues, the paper aims to contribute to the development of a robust and effective legal regime for outer space activities.