Madam Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States are actively engaged in promoting the preservation of a safe, secure, stable and sustainable space environment and the peaceful use of outer space on an equitable and mutually acceptable basis for all, for present and future generations. We remain strongly committed to the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) in all its aspects, which is essential for strengthening international security and stability and for safeguarding the free exploration and long-term use of the space environment for peaceful purposes.

Outer space has witnessed a surge in security challenges over recent years with threats and perceived threats multiplying and compromising not only the long-term sustainability of the space environment but also the level of trust among space actors, as well as the safe and secure delivery of essential services, on which the global community rely. Satellites and other space-based assets, their corresponding ground segments, and their associated data links are vital for the functioning of today’s societies as well as for progress on crucial global issues such as achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, improving space security is paramount for all States, be they space-faring nations or not.

The Final Document of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Special Session on Disarmament in 1978 recognised that "further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies." This acknowledgment highlighted the importance to tackle existing and evolving challenges and threats in outer space through all relevant means.

The EU reaffirms the applicability of international law to outer space, including the United Nations Charter and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, and other relevant UN treaties on outer space as well as international humanitarian law and consensual principles developed in the UN framework. The Outer Space Treaty, as well as the guiding principles developed in the UN framework constitute the cornerstone of the global governance in outer space. The EU and its Member States recognise outer space as a global commons, to be used for the benefit for all humankind.

All space activities must be conducted in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty and we encourage all States to ratify it and fully implement its provisions. Thus, we underline the importance of the universalisation of the Outer Space Treaty for the preservation of a secure, safe, stable and sustainable outer space environment for present and future generation.

We emphasise the obligations of the Outer Space Treaty, in particular those comprised in Article IV that obliges the State Parties not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner. We categorically oppose the development and deployment of nuclear weapons and any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction in outer space, which would constitute a severe and wide-reaching breach of international law. We also recall the grave consequences for civilian infrastructure, our societies and the interests of all States, including, but not limited to the negative repercussions for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and, in turn, on sustainable development on Earth, which could result from the detonation of a nuclear weapon or the use of any other kind of weapon of mass destruction in outer space. In light of potential real-world developments, addressing this issue has become more urgent and relevant than ever. The EU deeply regrets the use of the veto by Russia in the vote on the Security Council resolution proposed by Japan and the United States in April 2024. The resolution sought to reaffirm the obligations of all States Parties to comply with the Outer Space Treaty. In this regard, the EU supports the draft resolution tabled by the United States, aimed at reaffirming obligations and upholding the Outer Space Treaty.

The goal of PAROS is achievable by a combination of legally-binding and non-legally binding instruments and measures. While reaffirming the importance of developing verifiable legally-binding instruments in this field, the EU and its Member States believe that developing norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours is the most pragmatic and immediate way forward to make progress on PAROS and improve space security. Any legally binding frameworks for space security must be effective and verifiable and should aim to cover all relevant threats, be they Earth-to-space, Earth-to-Earth, space-to-space, or space-to-Earth. Norms of responsible behaviours within legal regimes governing other domains, such as maritime, cyber or telecommunication, constitute good examples, best practices and lessons learned and can serve as inspirations for our endeavours. In this context, we welcome the constructive outcome of the 2023-2024 Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on PAROS, which recognised that both legally and non-legally binding measures can contribute to the goal of PAROS, and be pursued in a progressive, sustained and complementary manner. Its final report will feed into future processes on the matter, initiated by General Assembly resolutions 78/20 and 78/238, thus contributing to a robust regulatory regime for space security as encompassing a variety of complementary measures including legally binding and non-legally binding ones.

Promoting trust among States is an essential prerequisite for the development and strengthening of legally binding instruments. Strict compliance with international space law, and first and foremost the Outer Space Treaty, is foundational to build this necessary trust. Ambiguous statements and opaque policies, on the contrary, hinder progress in this direction. Therefore, we strongly support the implementation of TCBMs discussed and agreed upon in the 2013 GGE report, and we welcome the new report of the UN Secretary General on their implementation, ten years after their adoption. The EU also welcomes the work of the United Nations Disarmament Commission’s Working Group II on promoting the practical implementation of transparency and confidence building measures in outer space and the adoption of its recommendations by consensus last year.

Moreover, sharing information on space launch vehicle programmes, including prelaunch notifications, is already established practice under the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC). The EU and its Member States encourage all States to subscribe to the HCoC and to fully implement its provisions.

We remain concerned about the multiplication of ambiguous, unfriendly or hostile activities in outer space and underline the importance of addressing such developments promptly and as part of international efforts to prevent threats to space systems. Among the most urgent threats are destructive direct ascent anti-satellite missile tests, the harmful effects of which can be the destruction of the targeted satellite as well as the generation of multiple collateral space debris, and the risk of uncontrolled escalation. The EU strongly condemned the Russian Federation’s conduct of kinetic direct-ascent ASAT weapon test against its own satellite in 2021, as a clear act of irresponsible behaviour in outer space.

We welcome the commitments, as a norm of responsible behaviour, made so far by 38 UN Member States, including all EU Member States, not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests. We encourage all States to make such commitment as soon as possible, welcoming increasing support for UN General Assembly Resolution 77/41.

As firm believers in a rules-based international order and multilateralism with the United Nations at its core, the EU and its Member States strongly believe that it is now urgent and in the interest of all States to pragmatically and immediately improve space security and to act swiftly in order to agree on a global, common and multilateral solution through greater coordination and cooperation, with the involvement of all UN Member States and relevant organisations. The EU and its Member States fully supported the Open Ended Working Group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours (OEWG), which concluded its work last September. The Group has for the first time advanced on this matter in a concrete and pragmatic way. The discussions within the OEWG identified promising topics on which progress can be made in the short term, as well as other elements which will form a basis for potential legal instruments in the future. The EU and its Member States consider that the new OEWG launched by UNGA Resolution 78/20 on “Reducing space threats through responsible behaviours” will further help create the momentum for more ambitious steps.

The EU and its Member States would support the merging to the two OEWGs established by UNGA Resolutions 78/20 and 78/238, provided that both mandates are preserved in an equitable manner and inclusive multi-stakeholder participation is ensured, including engagement with international organisations, commercial actors and civil society representatives.

The EU reiterates the importance of an inclusive format and a multi-stakeholder approach including engagement with international organisations, commercial actors, and civil society representatives, when addressing space threats to international peace and security. The EU and its Member States therefore continue to be fully committed to engage actively and constructively in discussions that contribute to the overarching goal of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

I thank you, Madam Chair.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.