16th of January 2025, 16.00-17.00 CET
Poland has one of the most dynamically evolving space sectors in Europe, coming in 8th for both the number of EO employees per country and the number of EO companies established per country according to the latest EARSC Industry Survey. A member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2012, Poland is continuously investing in its space sector, having increased its foreseen contribution to ESA by €360 million for the 2023-2025 period.
Starting on 1 January, and until 30 June 2025, Poland will hold, for the second time, the presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). This coincides with the first 100 days of the new European Commission, which saw a new Commissioner for Defence and Space appointed: Commissioner Andrius Kubilius. Europe’s current priorities lie in leveraging the synergies between space and defence, for example by working towards an EO governmental service, as well as delivering the EU Space Law, which aims to ensure an EU-wide approach to security, safety and sustainability in space.
In this strategic context, the Polish presidency will focus on seven key priorities: defence and security; protection people and borders; resistance to foreign interference and disinformation; ensuring security and freedom of business; energy transition; competitive and resilient agriculture; and health security.
More specifically regarding space, the Polish presidency will focus on the adoption of Council conclusions on maximising the benefits of using Earth observation space data to enhance resilience with a particular focus on the use of artificial intelligence algorithms in the area of security and crisis management. They will also work on the draft EU Space Law, seeking to ensure a balance between the EU legal framework and support for SMEs and start-ups, taking into account the requirements of cybersecurity and environmental policy. It will also discuss space policy on the use of satellite data for EU security and crisis management, looking into the synergies of space technologies with other industries (including the defence industry).
Other priorities include working towards fostering the participation of SMEs in the EU Space Programme and continuing and deepening cooperation with space-related European and international organisations.
The Polish presidency will also organise a series of events over the next six months in coordination with national and European actors that will enable further discussion on these key priorities and opportunities for the EO, and wider space community, to meet.
How will the Polish presidency support the European EO industry? What does it concretely mean for the European EO industry? What opportunities are there for the European EO industry? How can the European EO industry contribute/engage on space with the Polish presidency team, and vice-versa, to make the most out of the next 6 months? These are some of the questions that our host Emmanuel Pajot (EARSC Secretary General) and Martyna Perek (Chief Expert – Space Working Party Chair / Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2025, Space Policy Unit of the Department of Defence Industry, Ministry of Economic Development & Technology) will address in this first EOcafe of 2025.
Registration: The webinar is open to all. Registration is free but compulsory.
Please note this is a virtual event!
EOcafe is part of a series of EARSC meetings that offer timely, relevant, and practical information on a broad variety of topics related to the EO sector. Join us every two weeks to discuss and network while enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.
IMPORTANT NOTES!!!
- The use of a video camera is not mandatory but is encouraged to facilitate better interaction between the attendees and the guest speaker(s).
- The EOcafe will stay open after 17:00 in case our guests want to continue the discussion.
- By registering for this event, you accept the terms and conditions (https://earsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EARSC_Events_GDPR.pdf).
If you have any questions, and/or you want to know more about the EOcafe, and/or you want to share an idea about a future EOcafe, please contact Tanya Walker (tanya.walker@earsc.org).
