The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, announced on Wednesday in Bremen (Germany) an “unprecedented” increase in Spain’s contribution to the European Space Agency’s programmes. From now on, the country will contribute 455 million euros per year until 2030, 50% more than the current period, as specified by the minister in the statements to the press at the meeting of ministers of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The heads of the agency’s 23 member states will meet on Wednesday and Thursday in Germany to close the organization’s accounts until 2028. The meeting is seen as a decisive moment for Europe to gain weight in space despite the complicated global geopolitical scenario, in particular the disinvestment drift imposed by its so far biggest ally, the United States.
A few weeks ago, in an exclusive interview with EL PAÍS, the director general of ESA, Josef Aschbacher, warned that “European investments in space have decreased by a third in five years”. The head of space programs warns that China has overtaken Europe. “We are very exposed to cooperation with the United States.”
The increase in funds committed by Spain means tripling the Spanish contribution compared to 2017. Morant also announced that Spain, through this contribution, will be able to accompany the Elche-based company PLD Space in the commercialization of the Miura 5 launcher and in the development of advanced versions of the launcher, with an investment of 169 million euros through the ESA European Launcher Challenge (ELC).
Spain makes history #CM25 of @Thatin Bremen.
We make an unprecedented commitment to our country’s space, industry and science, increasing our contribution to a record figure of 455 million euros per year on average for the period 2026-2030.
It’s a milestone… pic.twitter.com/ljuI8dPJif
— Diana Morant (@DianaMorantR) November 26, 2025
Spain also plans to substantially increase its contribution to ESA’s optional programmes. Specifically, the budget for these chapters will rise from 500 to 1,400 million euros, as Morant specifies. “We come with everything,” the minister stressed in front of the media. “We will make an unprecedented commitment to space through the European Space Agency. If my predecessor, Pedro Duque, had increased the quota for ESA by 50 million euros per year in 2019; if I myself had increased Spain’s quota and contribution to ESA by another 50 million in 2022. This time we will increase it by 155 million per year,” he added.
For his part, the director general of ESA has proposed to ministers to invest around 22.2 billion euros over the next three years. The proposal provides for an increase in investments of 30% compared to what was approved for the previous period. Among all the proposed programs, an optional one stands out to which countries can contribute if they wish: a new satellite Earth observation system that could prevent “hundreds of deaths” in catastrophes such as the Valencia disaster, whose anniversary has just passed. This program would have a budget of approximately 1.2 billion euros.
Aschbacher noted Tuesday that normally the entire budget proposal is never fully committed, but only about 90%. The person in charge stressed that any deal above 20 billion euros will be considered a success.
