CM25: Securing access to space

Europe now has two rockets it relies on for access to space: the heavy-lift Ariane 6, and Vega-C for lighter payloads. Autonomous access to space for Europe is a cornerstone of ESA’s Strategy 2040 building on our reliable and competitive launch systems, operated from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. 

Over the course of two days ministers from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Member States, Associate States and Cooperating States came together to ensure space activities continue to serve European citizens and contribute to elevate the future of Europe. At ESA’s Ministerial Council (CM25) in November 2025, vital decisions were taken to implement the Agency’s Strategy 2040 and help realise the potential of Europe’s space transportation industry with funding amounting to over €4.4 billion, fully implementing the decisions of principle taken by the ESA Council in November 2023 in Seville, Spain.