Space Industry Funding & Investment - Global space economy investment from the public side reached approximately €100 billion last year [5] - The United States accounts for 60% of global public space investment, primarily through NASA and the Space Force [5] - Europe's share of global public space investment is 10%, a factor of six less than the US [5] - For every €1 invested in the Copernicus program, it brings back about €5 into the economy [3] European Space Agency (ESA) Strategy & Development - ESA is preparing for a major funding round in November, seeking increased investment from member states like Germany, France, and Italy [8][9] - ESA aims to foster a competitive space industry landscape in Europe, supporting both large and small companies [20] - ESA is shifting towards becoming an anchor customer for launch services, encouraging industry to develop innovative solutions [22][23] - ESA is developing a program for European resilience from space, focusing on security and defense needs [11] Industry Consolidation & Launch Capability - Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales are in discussions to merge their space businesses, potentially creating a very large company [18][19] - Europe needs more launch capability, exploring new launch services and aiming for new launchers to replace existing ones in the mid-next decade [21][26] - New European launch companies may emerge, but achieving reusability and heavy-lift capabilities like SpaceX will take time, potentially 10-15 years [24][25]

I think let's work for a sustainable negotiated agreement with the United States and I'm hopeful that we can achieve that. I think that we have to do with an administration in the US who is um trying to push us against the wall but at the same time these are our friends longstanding friends and therefore I'm confident that also at the G7 and thereafter we can find an a basis for uh the US to be and to continue to be a partner in security issues and we discuss it in NATO and on trade relations. Let's not loo ...