Macron Closes Paris Space Summit as Europe Eyes Bigger Role

French President Emmanuel Macron closed a two-day international space summit in Paris on Thursday, appearing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as Europe presses to strengthen its position in the global space race.

The gathering at the Grand Palais brought together officials, astronauts, researchers and industry leaders from about 120 countries to discuss the future of the space industry and explore potential business deals.

In his closing address, Macron said space remains a young field, noting that less than 70 years have passed since the first satellites reached orbit. He said Europe had a shared responsibility to shape its own path and expressed hope that within a decade the continent could be seen as having kept its promise in space by building new partnerships.

Macron also held a live two-way conversation with Sophie Adenot, a French astronaut with the European Space Agency who is currently aboard the International Space Station. Adenot thanked the president for organising the summit and said she was a keen follower of space exploration, adding that she was eager to learn what commitments had emerged from the discussions.

Von der Leyen said space is entering a new era, pointing to humanity's return to the moon, cheaper and more capable satellites, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in using data gathered in orbit. She said events in orbit are increasingly central to security, citing Russia's war against Ukraine, and described space as a frontier for prosperity, security and independence. The choices made now, she said, will shape Europe's place in space for decades.

The summit reflects Macron's broader effort to reduce Europe's reliance on the United States for critical technology services, including space launches and satellites used for communications and reconnaissance. The United States remains the global leader in the sector, with NASA running major exploration missions and overseeing the Artemis programme, which aims to establish a human presence on the moon.