Green light for EU satellites to protect government communications
Communications - Image by mohamed Hassan on Pixabay
(STRASBOURG) - The IRIS² telecoms satellites, offering a secure communications infrastructure for EU government bodies, will be active from 2024, following Tuesday's green light from the European Parliament.
A EUR 2.4 billion budget will enable the EU to set up the new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²); Europe's first multi-orbital satellite constellation. The new satellites will provide a secure communications infrastructure for EU government bodies and agencies, emergency services and European delegations around the world.
"Today's vote will allow Europe to strengthen its autonomy in space," said the Parliament's rapporteur Christophe Grudler MEP: "These satellites will be useful to governments, but also to citizens, bringing the internet to the least connected areas."
The scheme will ensure the EU's strategic autonomy in the field of secure government communications, in a context where cyber security threats are becoming increasingly important, especially following Russia's war against Ukraine.
In negotiations with EU ministers, MEPs made sure to strengthen the system's environmental provisions and sustainability, preventing space debris proliferation, light pollution, and providing carbon footprint compensation to offset the emissions from its operation.
Following Parliament's endorsement, the text will have to be formally adopted by the Council before it is signed and published in the Official Journal.
Further information, European Parliament