The European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC) is meeting for its plenary sitting in Madrid on Monday and Tuesday to discuss space cooperation.
The head of the Estonian delegation Mario Kadastik explained that the sitting in Spain this year will focus on space as a common strategic asset. “The modern reality has outlined the need to use both the civilian and military space systems better for ensuring security,” Kadastik said.
Kadastik referred to the EISC studies, which show that the organisation has frequently been a forerunner, especially in areas such as security or awareness of the situation in space. He added that security and defence applications have been included in 70% of the resolutions since 2009. The agenda is also reshaped by new geopolitical and financial factors. Many topics have emerged mainly over the last five years, with cooperation turning strategical. While the earlier resolutions emphasised partnership with developing nations and research based on the International Space Station (ISS), the later ones have put more weight on bilateral and multilateral links with like-minded partners and have increasingly supported developing independent capabilities in Europe instead of relying on international frameworks alone.
The key presentation of the Conference on the subject of space as an important strategic sector in defence will be delivered by General Francisco Braco Carbó, the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Air and Space Force.
The meeting in Madrid will mainly focus on six fields of cooperation in the use of space, which are applications, leadership, economy, cooperation, programmes, and risks. “This highlights the scope and diversity of the interests and possible spheres of influence of the Conference,” Kadastik said.
This meeting brings to Madrid representatives from the EISC member states, the European Space Agency, and the European Space Policy Institute.
The European Interparliamentary Space Conference was established in 1999. Its full members are the national parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and/or the European Space Agency that have established a parliamentary body dealing with space affairs.
The aim of the EISC is to facilitate information exchange, discussion, and analysis in the space policy sector for the national parliaments in Europe. The resolutions adopted at the meetings of the EISC are not binding for national parliaments, but the organisation helps to define the role of the European legislators in space issues.
The chairmanship of the EISC rotates, and one country holds it for one year. The plenary sitting will conclude with the passing of a resolution that reflects the key topics of the year.
Estonia held the presidency of the EISC in 2025 and in 2017.