Shaping Europe’s Space Future: Antonella Forganni speaks at the European Parliament

On 13 May 2025, Professor Antonella Forganni, a researcher and professor of law at the EU*Asia Institute at ESSCA School of Management, was invited to speak at a high-level public hearing hosted by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) at the European Parliament. The session, titled “Reinventing European space governance and boosting industry: responding to challenges” brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss the future of Europe's role in space.

Antonella Forganni took part in the panel discussion on governance. In her speech, she highlighted two key structural challenges that undermine the ambitions and coherence of European space policy, namely limited budgetary resources and the complexity of the EU's multi-layered space governance model. She emphasised that the overlapping responsibilities between the European Space Agency (ESA), national space agencies, and the European Union contribute to fragmentation, thereby weakening Europe’s strategic influence on the world stage.

Professor Forganni drew attention to the growing geopolitical importance of space and advocated a stronger supranational role for the European Union in shaping space policy, combined with greater democratic control. “The role of the EU should be strengthened... we need to collectively decide our priorities and increase investments...” she noted. "Democratic legitimacy is essential to determine the political strategy for an increased space budget and to supervise its usage. This is even more important considering the dual-use nature of space technology, as space applications can have both civil and military use."

This public hearing highlighted the strategic importance of space for Europe's future. Professor Forganni's contribution exemplifies the EU-Asia Institute's dedication to addressing Europe's technological and geopolitical challenges, particularly in the field of international space policy.