Brussels: The European Commission has proposed to Member States the initiation of negotiations with Ukraine concerning its involvement in the Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) component of the European Union Space programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme. GOVSATCOM aims to deliver secure and resilient satellite communication capabilities by integrating and sharing existing satellite resources from Member States and private operators. This step is part of advancing Ukraine’s participation in the EU Space Programme, following an initial agreement in April 2025 on Ukraine’s participation in other components of the programme.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this proposal aligns with the EU’s broader investment strategy in sovereign space capabilities, including the IRIS² project, which is set to be operational by 2030 to ensure secure, resilient communications across Europe and beyond. It also complements the EU’s continuous support for Ukraine through tools such as SAFE.
The anticipated agreement is expected to bolster the resilience of the EU’s connectivity infrastructure by enhancing secure communications capacity in a strategically significant region. It supports the EU’s broader goals under the Global Gateway strategy and the White Paper on European Defence Readiness 2030. The negotiations represent a further step in strengthening the EU-Ukraine partnership in areas vital to Europe’s security and stability.
Ukraine’s participation will be finalized upon the conclusion of an international agreement under Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, stated the importance of secure connectivity for Europe’s resilience and the benefits of deepening cooperation with Ukraine. Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, emphasized that Ukraine’s involvement would fortify Europe’s secure space capabilities at a pivotal time.