Sittings · Document

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION (05271/2026 – C100099/2026 – 2025/0351(NLE)) 2026-06-23

On the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Paolo Borchia

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on the draft Council decision concluding an agreement between the European Union and Iceland on Iceland's participation in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and on access to their governmental services. The draft resolution gives Parliament's consent to the conclusion of the agreement. The explanatory statement says the agreements with Iceland and Norway extend secure satellite communications beyond the Union's borders, while the Union keeps exclusive ownership of the assets and the partners get no decision-making authority or veto rights. The agreements cost the Union budget nothing and generate assigned revenue; Iceland and Norway pay contributions based on their GDP, including retroactive contributions for costs since 2021 under the Space Programme and since 2023 for secure connectivity. The rapporteur stresses compliance with Article 218(10) TFEU so that Parliament is fully and promptly informed, and recommends a favourable opinion on the conclusion of the agreements.

Committee position. The rapporteur recommends a favourable opinion on the conclusion of the agreements, and the draft resolution gives Parliament's consent to the conclusion of the agreement with Iceland.

Key points

  1. The draft resolution gives Parliament's consent to the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and Iceland on Iceland's participation in GOVSATCOM and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme.
  2. GOVSATCOM provides secure, resilient and protected satellite communications for authorised governmental users and critical infrastructures.
  3. IRIS² sets targets for a European satellite constellation providing ultra-fast, secure and low-latency communication and internet services by 2027.
  4. The agreements concern the participation of Norway (2025/0352(NLE)) and Iceland (2025/0351(NLE)) in GOVSATCOM and IRIS².
  5. Iceland and Norway are long-standing partners in the space sector; their involvement as users and through satellite capacities, ground segment facilities and technical infrastructure extends secure communications beyond the Union's borders.
  6. Their location close to the Arctic region makes secure connectivity important for sectors such as telecommunications and transport.
  7. The legal framework provides that the European Union retains exclusive ownership of all tangible and intangible assets, and the partner countries acquire no decision-making authority or veto rights over the programmes.
  8. Access to the services is subject to compliance with the EU's security standards and to supervision by designated competent national authorities.
  9. The agreements entail no expenditure for the Union budget and generate assigned revenue; Iceland and Norway finance their participation through contributions based on their respective GDP.
  10. These contributions include a retroactive contribution covering costs incurred by the Union since 2021 under the Space Programme and since 2023 for secure connectivity.
  11. The rapporteur emphasises compliance with Article 218(10) TFEU, which guarantees that Parliament is fully and promptly informed at every stage of the procedure.
  12. The rapporteur recommends a favourable opinion on the conclusion of the agreements, citing technical, geopolitical and economic benefits and the strengthening of secure communications and commercial broadband connectivity.

Who is affected

  • Iceland: participates in GOVSATCOM and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme as a user and through satellite capacities and infrastructure, and pays GDP-based contributions.
  • Norway: covered by a parallel agreement (2025/0352(NLE)) on participation in GOVSATCOM and IRIS², with the same financial arrangements.
  • Authorised governmental users and critical infrastructures: receive secure, resilient and protected satellite communications.
  • Telecommunications and transport sectors: secure connectivity is of particular importance given the partners' location close to the Arctic region.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2027: target year for the European satellite constellation to provide ultra-fast, secure and low-latency communication and internet services.
  • 2021: start of costs effectively incurred by the Union under the Space Programme covered by the retroactive contribution.
  • 2023: start of costs for secure connectivity covered by the retroactive contribution.

Legal basis: Article 186 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

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