The European Space Agency’s member states have advanced preparations for a December ministerial meeting and discussed a proposal for Europe’s future in space exploration, covering activity in low Earth orbit, on the Moon and towards Mars. The discussions took place at the 350th meeting of the ESA Council at delegate level, held at the agency’s headquarters in Paris on 21 and 22 October.
The Council considered the Director General’s proposal, titled “Europe’s Future in Space Exploration”, following a call by member states at the International Space Summit in Paris to strengthen Europe’s ambition in the field. The proposal describes a scalable route to developing European capabilities, combining greater autonomy with international cooperation. It is framed as a financially sustainable approach, not as an approved programme with a settled budget.
December meeting is a step towards later decisions
ESA is preparing for the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting, known as IMM26, which is scheduled to take place in Rome on 15 December. The October Council advanced those preparations and discussed how the exploration proposal could shape the next stage of Europe’s work in space.
IMM26 is described as an important step towards programme and financial decisions expected at the 28th Council meeting at ministerial level, or CM28. It may also enable early preparatory activities within existing financial envelopes. The October discussion did not amount to final approval of the longer-term programme or its funding. Those decisions lie ahead, so the proposal remains a framework under consideration rather than a funded commitment.
The capabilities outlined by the Director General’s proposal span low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars. ESA says the approach would build on existing European strengths while progressively developing capabilities needed for a future role in exploration. Its stated principles include greater European autonomy alongside international cooperation, with financial sustainability forming part of the proposal’s design.
ESA–EU policy discussions continue
Member states also reviewed developments in relations between ESA and the European Union. Topics included the first “Sherpas” meeting under the European Commission’s Space Team Europe initiative and preparations for the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, which covers 2028 to 2034.
The Council’s discussions also touched on negotiations concerning the European Competitiveness Fund, the proposed EU Space Act and regulation for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme. ESA is monitoring how these policy discussions may affect governance and the delivery of future European space activities.
The agency argued for a clear and efficient division of responsibilities between ESA and the EU, avoiding duplication while making use of ESA’s technical and programme expertise. The agency’s capabilities, it noted, have been developed through long-term investment by its member states. Separately, the European Commission took part in the meeting at senior level to review progress on joint ESA–EU projects.
The October meeting did not announce a final settlement of the institutional questions. The policy files discussed remain part of ongoing EU processes, and ESA’s account focused on their possible implications for future cooperation. The discussions form a parallel strand of the Council’s work alongside preparations for IMM26 and the exploration proposal.
Two directors appointed
The Council approved two leadership appointments. Andrzej Banasiak will become Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership, while Nicolaus Hanowski will become Director of Space Operations. Both are due to take up their duties on 1 January 2027.
Banasiak is to be based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications in Harwell, in the United Kingdom. Hanowski is to be based at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. The appointments were approved at the same delegate-level Council meeting as the strategic discussions.
Taken together, the outcomes span planning, institutional relations and management. The Council has moved forward work ahead of the December meeting, discussed a proposed direction for European exploration and reviewed matters affecting ESA–EU cooperation. Its exploration discussion sets out possible capabilities and a route for further consideration; it does not establish that missions across low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars have been approved or funded.
The next ministerial milestones will determine how the proposal develops. IMM26 is scheduled for December, while the programme and financial decisions are expected later at CM28. Until those decisions are made, the exploration proposal remains under discussion.
