The Evolving Role of the EU in Space-Related Security and Defence Research

Abstract

This chapter is dedicated to the evolving role of European research in the field of space and in particular the potential impact of the future European Defense Fund covering both research and capabilities development at European level. While the EU already demonstrated its capacity to financing dual-use space programs, this Fund could open the way to more military-oriented research. Still, many questions remain open, such as how much of this fund will be dedicated to space, to finance what exactly, which impact will the Brexit have on research funds, and, above all, to what extent national ministries of defense will accept European deeper involvement in this sensitive kind of affairs.