Space and Defence: a Hybridisation of EU Space Policy and CSDP

The European Union (EU) has developed its Space Policy and a comprehensive Space Programme geared towards pursuing distinctively civilian objectives. However, recent EU practice increasingly intertwines the use of space with objectives relating to security and defence. As the paper shows, this results in a dual dynamic. On the one hand, the Common Security and Defence Policy is increasingly concerned with the space domain, makes use of EU space assets originally developed for civilian purposes and extends its operational tools to the protection of space assets from threats. On the other hand, security and defence objectives are explicitly incorporated into the EU Space Policy, challenging the traditional civilian-centric narrative. This dynamic not only makes it harder to trace a clear line of demarcation between two policy areas characterised by different institutional contexts and procedures, but also establishes a unique approach to articulating the relationship between the CSDP and other EU policies.