The upcoming ministerial of the European Space Agency (ESA), scheduled for 26 and 27 November in Bremen, was the focus of a videoconference between the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit) and delegated Authority for Space and Aerospace policies, Adolfo Urso, and the Director General of ESA, Josef Aschbacher. The President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Teodoro Valente, also took part in the meeting.

"Italy is ready to play a leading role in defining the European strategic vision for Space, promoting and consolidating a constructive dialogue with European partners, with ESA and with the European Commission. We want to ensure maximum synergy and alignment of intent in this phase of transition, to strengthen the European role and decisively address global challenges", the minister said.

During the discussion, Urso and Aschbacher addressed the challenges related to European industrial competitiveness, including defining ESA's budget, its allocation between mandatory and optional programmes, as well as Earth observation and space exploration initiatives.

Regarding Italy's financial participation, the minister reiterated that the Government —through the Interministerial Committee for Policies related to Space and Aerospace Research— will determine in the coming days the level of Italy's commitment for the next three-year period, also taking into account the interests of the country's space industry supply chain.

On launchers, the minister called for adherence to the commitments made at the ESA ministerial summit in Seville in 2023, including the strengthening of the European launchers Ariane 6 and Vega-C (built by the Italian company Avio), stressing the need to significantly increase launch cadence. Urso also highlighted the importance of developing a larger and more technologically advanced European low-Earth orbit constellation, capable of ensuring strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the global satellite services market.

Regarding Earth Observation programmes, the minister thanked the ESA Director General for confirming commitments on satellite programmes co-managed with the EU, and called attention to the urgency of strengthening the sector's capabilities for European resilience, while reiterating the need for a clearer definition of the technical and financial scope.

Yesterday's meeting follows a series of discussions the minister held in recent days with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, and with his counterparts and sector institutions in France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The minister and the Director General of ESA will meet again shortly to take stock ahead of the Bremen summit.