Macron and von der Leyen Push for Stronger European Space Sector

At a space summit in Paris on September 10, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a more powerful and competitive European space sector. Macron urged shared governance of space and proposed that Europeans aim to reach the Moon within ten years. Von der Leyen warned that Europe has fallen behind and backed a European space merger ahead of schedule. Both leaders emphasized the need for Europe to compete in spaceflight and human spaceflight.