A “Sovereign Europe” in outer space for the good?: Some reflections on an international actor (still) lost in an increasingly competing security scenario
-
-
[1] Universidad de Granada
Universidad de Granada
Granada, España
-
- Localización: Ordine Internazionale e Diritti Umani, ISSN-e 2284-3531, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 386-404
- Idioma: italiano
- Enlaces
-
Resumen
This article analyses how the EU has taken a more pragmatic approach when it comes to developing its space policy in recent times. Indeed, the strategies adopted in the last decade call for the Union and its Member States to enhance space capabilities and services as a means to strengthen its security and defense, in view of the increasingly competing and contested international security scenario. The article explores, then, the main innovations and (legal and policy) instruments implemented so far to achieve the envisaged “strategic autonomy” in outer space, and how they aim to contribute to the maintenance of its internal security and defense capacities, disregarding other significant aspects of its role as an international “normative” actor. Here we found that, nevertheless, promoting a more pragmatic role is not necessarily at odds with keeping its international commitments. The adoption of a realistic view of international relations should be rather seen as a new stage in the ongoing learning process of the Union as an international actor in a highly complex security environment like the one we are experiencing today.
