Paris: A Joint Declaration on cooperation in the field of space activities was signed in Paris by Cyprus' Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou and France's Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the signing took place on the sidelines of the International Space Summit, in which Damianou represented the President of the Republic. The Joint Declaration establishes a framework for closer cooperation between Cyprus and France in areas including Earth observation, space science, and satellite telecommunications.

The statement highlights that this agreement is a concrete step in the Strategic Partnership established by Presidents Nikos Christodoulides and Emmanuel Macron, reaffirming the two countries' shared political will to work towards a stronger, more resilient, and more autonomous Europe. The Deputy Minister for Research pointed out that Europe's capacity to understand climate change, respond to natural disasters, and enhance its industrial capabilities increasingly depends on space.

Damianou emphasized that addressing these shared challenges requires closer international cooperation, precisely the purpose of the Joint Declaration and the spirit of the Paris Summit. The agreement also provides a framework for sharing expertise and experience, encouraging participation in joint research and industry initiatives, and strengthening coordination within ESA and other European and international fora.

In recent years, Cyprus has transitioned from a user of space services into an emerging contributor to the European space ecosystem. Through active participation in European space programmes, strategic investments in satellite infrastructure, and initiatives such as the Space Business Incubation Centre, Cyprus is strengthening its role as a reliable partner in space innovation and Earth observation, in a region of strategic importance.