Italy is the candidate chair for @ESA Ministerial Council in November. With so much on the table, so much at stake, and so much opportunity at #CM25, Italy will play a fundamental part in forming the future of European space activities, contributing to the overall resilience of our continent.

European space industry risks losing its strong position unless regulatory support is provided at the European level and through significant ESA and EU programmes offering stable prospects to invest and expand in Europe. I have repeatedly communicated to the space sector in Europe that without setting our ambitions high and strong, we will not be able to maintain our standing, nor will we successfully build on our achievements. Reinforcing competitiveness in the frame of increased global competition is essential for Europe’s space industry. With this context in mind, I have proposed to develop a Strategy 2040 for ESA together with our Member States. They have unanimously agreed to develop this strategy during the Space Summit in Seville late last year. The strategy shall give clarity on how Europe, through ESA, must position itself in view of a 15-year horizon and to provide a stable framework for the preparation of the next ESA Ministerial meetings. No one can predict the future. But there are some elements that expectedly shape the future use of space for Europe. I expect the strategy to focus primarily on (i) the geopolitical dimension of space, (ii) the impact of space on the European economy, (iii) the role of space programmes in attracting and retaining talents, resources, and partners in Europe, and (iv) space as a driving factor for innovation and science. By 2050, space will undoubtedly be even more integrated into the daily life of citizens and be an integral part of the societal, economic and political fabric of Europe's citizens. This is what I discussed today at the #EuropeanSpaceConf during the “European Space Policy: from Achievements to Future Ambitions” panel with my colleagues. I look forward to diving deeper into the Strategy and sharing with you any future developments.