ESA Member States advanced key strategic priorities for Europe's space ambitions, with discussions spanning space exploration, ESA-EU relations and preparations for upcoming ministerial meetings.
Held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 21 and 22 October, the 350th meeting of the ESA Council at delegate level brought Member States together to take forward these priorities, including preparations for the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting (IMM26), to be held in Rome on 15 December, the longer-term path towards CM28, and developments in ESA's cooperation with the European Union.
Towards a new European ambition in space exploration
Following the call by ESA Member States at the International Space Summit in Paris to strengthen Europe's ambition in space exploration, the Council advanced preparations for IMM26 and discussed the Director General's proposal on 'Europe's Future in Space Exploration.'
The proposal sets out a scalable path for Europe in low Earth orbit (LEO), on the Moon and towards Mars, combining greater European autonomy with international cooperation through a realistic and financially sustainable approach. It provides a framework for Europe to build on its existing strengths while progressively developing the capabilities needed to secure its role in the next era of space exploration.
IMM26 will be a key step towards the programme and financial decisions at CM28, while enabling early preparatory activities within existing financial envelopes.
ESA-EU cooperation
Member States reviewed the latest developments in ESA-EU relations, including the first Sherpas meeting of the Space Team Europe initiative of the Commission, preparations for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028-2034) and negotiations on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), the EU 'Space Act', and EUSPA regulation.
ESA is closely monitoring the evolution of these discussions, in particular their implications for the governance and implementation of future European space activities.
The agency emphasised the need for a clear and efficient division of responsibilities, avoiding duplication while ensuring that EU space activities continue to benefit fully from ESA's technical and programmatic expertise and capabilities developed through the long-term investments of its Member States.
In a separate exchange, the European Commission participated in the meeting at senior level to review progress on joint ESA-EU projects.
Internal organisation
Finally, the Council approved the appointment of two new directors : Andrzej Banasiak as Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership, and Nicolaus Hanowski as Director of Space Operations. Both will take up their duties on 1 January 2027.
