Regulation (EU) 2023/588 establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/588 - adopted by the co-legislators on 15 March 2023 - establishing a Union Secure Connectivity Programme (IRIS² / IRSS) for the period from 2023 until 2027.

Further information:

This Regulation establishes the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the remaining duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. It lays down the objectives of the Programme, the budget for the period 2023-2027, the forms of EU funding and the rules for providing such funding, as well as the rules for the implementation of the Programme, taking into account Regulation (EU) 2021/696.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 15 February 2022, as part of a so-called Space Package. The Commission acknowledged that governmental user needs and satellite communication solutions were subject to rapid change, and argued that an EU space-based secure communication system ought to meet these increased and evolving needs. This system should also include the latest quantum communication technologies for secure encryption. The programme was envisaged to rely on the development of innovative and disruptive technologies, and on the leveraging of the New Space ecosystem.

Member State representatives adopted a general approach on behalf of the Council of the European Union on 29 June. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted a negotiating position on 13 October. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 17 November. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 14 February 2023 and by the Council on 7 March. The Act was formally signed by the co-legislators on 15 March 2023, and published in the Official Journal on 17 March 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Euronews: My Europe, 15/02/2022: What is the EU’s new space plan and why does it matter? https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/02/15/what-is-the-eu-s-new-space-plan-and-why-does-it-matter

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 06/07/2022: Establishing the Union secure connectivity programme for the period 2023-2027 - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)730307

Euronews, 26/10/2022: Europe's space sector hesitates between independence and cooperation https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/26/europes-space-sector-hesitates-between-independence-and-cooperation

European Commission: Blog, 17/11/2022: Welcome to IRIS², Europe's new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection & Security by Satellites https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_22_6999

European Space Policy Institute (ESPI): Brief No 61, 22/12/2022: IRIS2: The new (material) girl on the block https://www.espi.or.at/briefs/iris2-the-new-material-girl-on-the-block/

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Briefing, 03/02/2023: EU secure connectivity programme: Building a multi-orbital satellite constellation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)729442

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 08/02/2023: EU secure connectivity programme 2023-2027 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)739325

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News

EurActiv, 15/02/2022: EU lays out plans for secure satellite communications https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-lays-out-plans-for-secure-satellite-communications/

Politico, 15/02/2022: EU pitches broadband satellite plan https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-pitches-catch-all-cyber-secure-broadband-satellite-plan/

Reuters, 15/02/2022: EU lays out $6.8 billion satellite communication plan in space race https://www.reuters.com/article/eu-space-defence-idINL1N2UQ1D9

Science Business, 17/02/2022: EU launches plan for independent low-earth orbit satellite broadband communication system https://sciencebusiness.net/news/eu-launches-plan-independent-low-earth-orbit-satellite-broadband-communication-system

EurActiv, 13/10/2022: Leading parliamentary committee green-lights EU’s secure connectivity programme https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/leading-parliamentary-committee-green-lights-eus-secure-connectivity-programme/

EurActiv, 18/11/2022: Brussels to launch new satellite constellation for secure connectivity https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/brussels-to-launch-new-satellite-constellation-for-secure-connectivity/

EurActiv, 21/02/2023: IRIS²: EU launches a space-based secure connectivity programme https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/special_report/iris2-eu-launches-a-space-based-secure-connectivity-programme/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)57: Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:57:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)30: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:30:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)30: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:31:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 (2022/0039(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0039(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Secure Connectivity Programme for the period 2023-2027 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-europe-fit-for-the-digital-age/file-building-an-eu-space-based-global-secure-communication-system

European Commission: Europe Fit for Digital Age: Space: EU initiatives for a satellite-based connectivity system and an EU approach on management of space traffic https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/space-eu-initiatives-satellite-based-connectivity-system-and-eu-approach-management-space-traffic_en

European Commission: DG Defence Industry and Space: IRIS²: the new EU Secure Satellite Constellation https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space-policy/eu-space-programme/iriss_en

European Commission: Press Release, 15/02/2022: Space: EU initiates a satellite-based connectivity system and boosts action on management of space traffic for a more digital and resilient Europe https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_921

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Secure Connectivity (15 February 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_22_922

European Commission: Space and defence press conference by Commissioner Breton (15 February 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_1082

European Free Trade Association (EFTA): News, 17/06/2022: EEA EFTA Comment on the proposal for Union Secure Connectivity Programme https://www.efta.int/EEA/news/EEA-EFTA-Comment-proposal-Union-Secure-Connectivity-Programme-530361

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 29/06/2022: Secure space-based connectivity: Council adopts negotiating mandate https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/29/secure-space-connectivity-council-adopts-negotiating-mandate/

European Space Agency (ESA): News, 26/07/2022: ESA invites new proposals for EU Secure Connectivity programme https://artes.esa.int/news/esa-invites-new-proposals-eu-secure-connectivity-programme

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 13/10/2022: Towards full European sovereignty over space connectivity https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2022-10-13/towards-full-european-sovereignty-over-space-connectivity

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 17/11/2022: Council and European Parliament agree on boosting secure communications with a new satellite system https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/11/17/council-and-european-parliament-agree-on-boosting-secure-communications-with-a-new-satellite-system/

European Commission: Press Release, 17/11/2022: Commission welcomes political agreement to launch IRIS², the Union's Secure Connectivity Programme https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6952

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 17/11/2022: Deal on new EU satellite telecommunications programme https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/deal-on-new-eu-satellite-telecommunications-programme

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/02/2023: MEPs back deploying new EU satellites to protect government communications https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230210IPR74712/

European Commission: DG Defence Industry and Space: News, 14/02/2023: Adoption by the European Parliament of IRIS², Europe’s new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnection & Security by Satellites https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/adoption-european-parliament-iris2-europes-new-infrastructure-resilience-interconnection-security-2023-02-14_en

Renew Europe EP Group: News, 14/02/2023: IRIS²: the EU's response to Elon Musk's Starlink satellites project https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-02-14/iris2-the-eus-response-to-elon-musks-starlink-satellites-project

Copernicus: News, 16/02/2023: Copernicus gets sibling— IRIS², the new EU Secure Communication Constellation https://www.copernicus.eu/en/news/news/observer-copernicus-gets-sibling-iris2-new-eu-secure-communication-constellation

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/03/2023: Secure space-based connectivity programme: Council gives its final approval https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/07/secure-space-based-connectivity-programme-council-gives-its-final-approval/

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