On June 25, 2025, the European Commission proposed the EU Space Act to harmonize the regulatory framework for space activities across the European Union (EU). In a new insight, Director of Competition Policy Fred Ashton explains how the EU Space Act’s regulations would hinder competition from U.S. firms.

Key points:

• The cross-border nature of providing space services throughout the EU requires a comprehensive regulatory approach that seamlessly allows multinational cooperation.
• As it stands, 13 EU member states have passed national space legislation, which has led to a fractured regulatory landscape that creates added complexity and costs for businesses.
• Yet as with other European Commission Regulations – including the Digital Markets Act – the EU Space Act would create a different set of rules for non-EU actors by using arbitrary satellite constellation thresholds that disadvantage U.S. firms and hinder their ability to compete with EU-based operators.

Read the analysis.