Member countries should “unite our defense efforts in space” Andrius Kubilius says.

BRUSSELS — European Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called today for a "European Space Shield" to unite its defense efforts in space.

"I want to set up a dialogue with member states and space commands to look at options towards a European space domain awareness to monitor threats, including military threats" he said in a speech at the 17th European Space Conference.

These moves would be "building blocks towards a European Space Shield to unite our defense efforts in space" he added.

Countries are increasingly competing for dominance in space, with Russia and China in particular teaming up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine for projects such as a joint lunar nuclear plant, but "we cannot leave space to the axis of aggressive authoritarians," he told attendees.

"Europe must maintain leadership in space," he said. The EU currently spends around €2 billion a year on space.

Kubilius also sounded a note of caution against Elon Musk and other private entrepreneurs with space ambitions.

"Space entrepreneurs are doing exciting things in space," the commissioner said, adding that while "structural problems" are holding the EU back, "if we do nothing, we risk stagnation." He also called for member countries to "buy European."

The Italian government is currently in talks with Musk's SpaceX for a €1.5 billion deal to provide encrypted telecommunications services via his Starlink satellite internet provider.

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