31st Würzburger Europarechtstage on "The European Union in Outer Space"

Governments, corporations and research institutions increasingly direct their attention to outer space. The exploration and development of outer space promise new sources of economic growth and advancements in AI, pharmaceutical research, communication, and navigation services. Digital and physical space infrastructure have become indispensable in contemporary life and warfare. Consequently, influence in space has become synonymous with economic and political power, and attempts to increase control over space resources fuel an increasingly intensified global competition. The European Union faces the challenge of developing its own space policy while aligning it with the objectives of sustainability, autonomy, and resilience.

The 2026 Würzburger Europarechtstage take this geopolitical shift as an opportunity to examine the future of the European Union's engagement in outer space. The event will include a public keynote and roundtable discussion situating today’s challenges within the historical context of space exploration and its legal regulation during the Cold War. The panel discussions will first address the rise of satellite mega-constellations and the associated legal approaches to mitigate their environmental impact. Other key topics include the militarisation of space, the role of the United Nations in maintaining orbital security, and the alignment of space activities with the EU’s defense strategy. The conference will also explore the intersection of science and diplomacy, emphasising how scientific expertise can guide the governance of outer space as a global commons.

More information can be found here.