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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2025)0335 – C100128/2025 – 2025/0335(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities in the Union

ITRE-PR-784432

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Elena Donazzan

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The rapporteur's draft report sets out Parliament's position on the proposed regulation on the safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities in the Union. It amends the Commission proposal to simplify authorisation, add light regimes for smaller operators, and align cybersecurity with the NIS2 Directive. It keeps harmonised rules on authorisation, registration and supervision of space activities, but removes the Union Space Label and several detailed cybersecurity provisions. It extends the NIS2 Directive to cover space activities instead. It sets safety rules for launch vehicles, spacecraft trackability, collision avoidance, debris mitigation, constellations, environmental footprint estimation and in-space operations and services. It also sets rules for third-country operators and international organisations. It delays application to 36 months after entry into force and grants longer transition periods to small mid-caps, small and medium-sized enterprises and research and education institutions.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to amend the Commission proposal to simplify authorisation procedures, introduce light regimes for smaller operators, align cybersecurity with the NIS2 Directive, and delay application to 36 months after entry into force.

Key points

  1. Parliament's amended version keeps harmonised rules on authorisation, registration and supervision of space activities, and adds capacity building measures.
  2. It deletes the Union Space Label and its labelling schemes, and removes several detailed cybersecurity articles, instead amending the NIS2 Directive to cover space activities and Union-owned assets.
  3. It requires Union space operators to hold a Member State or Commission authorisation, with mutual recognition of authorisations between Member States.
  4. It allows a single authorisation for a satellite constellation and simplified authorisation processes for small and medium-sized enterprises, research or education institutions, and IOD/IOV or ISOS missions.
  5. It requires launch vehicles to be trackable, to undergo risk assessment and to carry mitigation measures, and sets a 25-year limit for disposal of launch vehicles in low Earth orbit.
  6. It requires Union spacecraft operators to subscribe to a collision avoidance space service or use an equivalent provider, and to cooperate on high interest event alerts.
  7. It requires spacecraft to limit debris, to be passivated before end of life, and to meet disposal probability thresholds, with a five-year orbital lifetime limit in low Earth orbit.
  8. It requires Union spacecraft operators to establish a plan to limit light and radio pollution, and to estimate the environmental footprint of their space activities.
  9. It exempts small mid-caps, small and medium-sized enterprises and research and education institutions from environmental footprint obligations for the first 60 months.
  10. It requires third-country space operators to register in the Union Register of Space Operators and to comply with safety, resilience and sustainability requirements when offering services in the Union.
  11. It allows the Commission to grant derogations for third-country launch operators where public interest conditions are met, and to allow third-country public entities to provide services until an international agreement or equivalence decision applies.
  12. It sets the regulation to apply 36 months after entry into force, with transitional rules for assets launched before that date.

Who is affected

  • Union space operators, who must obtain authorisation and comply with safety, resilience and sustainability rules.
  • Small mid-caps, small and medium-sized enterprises and research and education institutions, which get simplified procedures and exemptions.
  • Third-country space operators, who must register in URSO and meet requirements to provide services in the Union.
  • International organisations engaging in space activities, which are registered in URSO subject to international agreements.
  • Member States, which designate competent authorities and qualified technical bodies and enforce the rules.

Figures and deadlines

  • 36 months after entry into force, when the regulation applies.
  • 25 years, the limit for disposal of a launch vehicle deployed in low Earth orbit.
  • 60 months, the exemption period for small mid-caps, small and medium-sized enterprises and research and education institutions from environmental footprint obligations.
  • At least 0.90, the probability of successful passivation.
  • At least 0.95, the probability of successful passivation in certain orbits.
  • Above 0.90, the probability of successful disposal.
  • Five years, the orbital lifetime limit in low Earth orbit after end of mission.
  • Less than 10E-4, the probability of casualties per re-entry.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.