Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/2195 of 28 September 2026 on the European Union Space Threat Response Architecture (STRA) and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2021/698
Subject matter
1. This Decision establishes the European Union Space Threat Response Architecture (STRA) as a mechanism to respond to space threats. This Decision sets out the responsibilities to be performed by the Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) with regard to space threats.
2. For the purpose of this Decision, ‘space threat’ means:
(a)
a threat to the security of the Union or of one or more of its Member States, arising from the deployment, operation or use of any space system; or
(b)
a threat to the operation of any space system or to the provision of any space service, the denial or interruption of which would harm the fundamental interests of the Union or of one or more of its Member States.
3. STRA may be used to respond to:
(a)
a threat to the security of an individual Member State or of a group of Member States, including to the territory, to space systems and services or to other relevant capacities under the authority or control of a Member State or a group of Member States; or
(b)
a threat arising from the deployment, operation or use of the system set up and services provided under the components of the Union Space Programme or of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, or a threat to the operation of any of those systems or to the provision of those services.
Awareness
1. In the event of a space threat, the Member States, the Commission, the relevant Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) entities and agencies, the relevant Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (the ‘Agency’) or any security monitoring structure appointed in accordance with Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (the ‘appointed security monitoring structure’), as appropriate, shall immediately inform the High Representative of all the information at its or their disposal which it or they consider relevant.
2. The High Representative shall immediately inform the Council of the space threat and of its potential impact on the security of the Union or of one or more of its Member States and on the operation of the systems or the provision of the services concerned.
Initiating a response
1. In the event of a space threat as set out in Article 1(3), point (a), the Member State or group of Member States concerned acting jointly, may ask the High Representative to submit a proposal for a Union response to the Council. The Member State or group of Member States concerned shall provide the High Representative with the relevant information, including its or their intended response and measures taken to address the space threat, and information on the expected impact of those measures. The High Representative may submit a proposal for a Union response to the Council, in close cooperation with the Member State or group of Member States concerned.
2. In the event of a space threat as set out in Article 1(3), point (b), the High Representative shall submit to the Council a proposal for a Union response. The Union response may consist of one or more of the measures from the space security toolbox set out in Articles 5 to 9 (‘space security toolbox’).
3. The proposal from the High Representative referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall include an impact assessment of the proposed Union response.
4. The Council, acting unanimously upon a proposal from the High Representative, shall decide on the proposed Union response.
5. The Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall provide an opinion to the Council on the proposed Union response, as appropriate.
Urgent situation
1. If the urgency of the situation requires immediate action to be taken before the Council has taken a decision under Article 3(4), the High Representative is authorised to adopt a provisional Union response. The High Representative may direct the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to issue instructions to the Agency or take other appropriate measures.
2. The High Representative shall immediately inform the Council and the Commission of any provisional Union response adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 and provide the Council with the relevant information related to the urgency of the situation.
3. The High Representative shall keep the provisional Union response under constant review, shall amend it as necessary or shall revoke it if such urgent action is no longer required.
4. The Council shall confirm, modify or revoke the provisional Union response as soon as possible, and not later than within four weeks after the provisional Union response has been adopted.
Diplomatic responses
1. In the event of a space threat, the High Representative may propose to adopt a Union response which may include, inter alia, engaging in contact with third States or international organisations, delivering a demarche to one or several third States, issuing a statement on behalf of the Union or launching a diplomatic campaign.
2. The EEAS shall assess the likely wider impact of the response which the High Representative intends to propose to the Council pursuant to paragraph 1.
Technical responses linked to the Union Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme
1. In the event of a space threat arising from or linked to the deployment, operation or use of the systems set up and services provided under the components of the Union Space Programme or of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, the High Representative may propose a technical measure through an instruction to the Agency or the relevant appointed security monitoring structure.
2. The Agency or the relevant appointed security monitoring structure and the Commission shall provide advice to the High Representative on the likely wider impact on the systems set up and services provided under the Union Space Programme and its components and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme of any instructions which the High Representative intends to propose to the Council pursuant to paragraph 1.
3. The High Representative shall invite Member States to provide advice, through the STRA network, on the likely effects of the technical measures that the High Representative intends to propose on Member States’ governmental users.
4. Where appropriate, as part of the technical measure referred to in paragraph 1, relevant information shall be provided to users who may be impacted.
Strategic communication actions
1. In the event of a space threat, the High Representative may, as part of the Union response, propose a strategic communication action plan in support of the objectives of this Decision.
2. Such a strategic communication action plan shall be implemented in a timely, coherent and proportionate manner, consistent with the objectives of the Union response and in close coordination with the Member States, the EEAS, the Commission, the Agency and, where relevant, the appointed security monitoring structures.
3. The EEAS shall assess the likely wider impact of the strategic communication action plan which the High Representative intends to propose to the Council pursuant to paragraph 1.
Restrictive measures
1. In the event of a space threat, the High Representative may propose to the Council to adopt restrictive measures targeting relevant persons and entities with a view to addressing such a threat and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the Union.
2. The EEAS shall assess the impact of the envisaged response which the High Representative intends to propose to the Council pursuant to paragraph 1.
Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations
1. In the event of a space threat originating from a third country territory, the High Representative may propose to the Council to modify the mandate of relevant CSDP mission or operation or to establish a new CSDP mission or operation.
2. The modified mandate may include civilian or military advice and civilian or military assistance tasks, prevention, training or executive tasks, as required.
3. The EEAS shall assess the impact of the envisaged response which the High Representative intends to propose to the Council pursuant to paragraph 1.
Operational procedures
1. The High Representative shall prepare, and submit for approval to the PSC, the necessary operational procedures for the practical implementation of the provisions set out in this Decision as regards a Union response referred to in Articles 5 to 9. For that purpose, the High Representative shall be supported by experts from Member States, the Commission, the Agency and the relevant appointed security monitoring structure, as appropriate.
2. The operational procedures referred to in paragraph 1 may include predefined instructions to be implemented by the EEAS, the Agency or any relevant appointed security monitoring structure, as appropriate.
3. Within a year after the security configuration of the committee established under Article 107(1), point (e), of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 has determined, on the basis of the risk and threat analysis performed by the Commission pursuant to Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696, under the procedure referred to in Article 107(3) thereof, whether a system set up or a service provided, or both, under a particular component of the Union Programme is security sensitive, the Agency shall prepare and submit to the High Representative, the necessary procedures for the practical implementation of the provisions set out in Article 6 in this Decision as regards the system or service concerned, or both. For that purpose, the Agency shall be supported by experts from Member States, the Commission, the EEAS and the relevant appointed security monitoring structure, as appropriate.
4. The operational procedures shall be reviewed by the High Representative at least every two years, in particular as a result of a lessons-learned review process following a yearly exercise on the implementation of this Decision, or at the request of a Member State, and shall be submitted to the PSC for approval.
5. The High Representative shall inform the PSC at least once a year of the ongoing activities carried out for the practical implementation of this Decision.
Cooperation with third States and international organisations
1. In order to maximise the impact of the responses set out in this Decision, the Union shall, inter alia, encourage third States and relevant international organisations to share information on space threats, coordinate responses to space threats with the Union, and encourage the mutual participation in activities and space exercises.
2. The High Representative shall have the authority to conclude administrative arrangements with the competent authorities of third States and relevant international organisations concerning their cooperation for the purpose of implementing this Decision. Such arrangements shall be subject to approval by the Council acting unanimously.
3. Where cooperation with third States or international organisations requires access by them to EU classified information, such access may only take place pursuant to agreements or arrangements concluded in accordance with the Council security rules.
STRA network
1. The Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the implementation of this Decision in their respective area of responsibility in a manner consistent with, inter alia, Article 34(6), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2021/696.
2. For the purpose of paragraph 1, the Member States shall designate points of contact. Those points of contact may be natural or legal persons.
3. Each designated point of contact shall have access to a secure videoconferencing system to be determined by the Council.
Review
The Council shall review and, as necessary, amend the rules and procedures set out in this Decision no later than five years from the date of its entry into force, or at the request of a Member State.
Transitional provisions
Decision (CFSP) 2021/698 is hereby repealed.
The operational procedures developed under Decision (CFSP) 2021/698 shall remain applicable until they are updated under this Decision.
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
