ESPInsights is a quarterly publication providing the reader with a synthetic overview of major developments in the global space sector on the covered period and embeds useful links to official documents, public reports, web articles or conference websites for further details on the topic.

The Defence Satellites 2019 Conference was organised on May 15th and 16th in Munich, Germany. ESPI Director Jean-Jacques Tortora gave a presentation on the future of European space policies. He outlined European specificities as well as the characteristics of the evolving international context and concluded with the need for Europe to develop sectoral space policies rather than a single overarching policy.

From 29 April to 1 May 2019, ESPI Director Jean-Jacques Tortora and ESPI Senior Research Fellow Marco Aliberti participated to the 5th edition of the ORF Kalpana Chawla Annual Space Policy Dialogue in New Dehli

This report authored by experts from India with diverse professional profiles reviews the current status of engagement on space matters between Europe and India and aims to raise awareness for avenues of mutually beneficial space cooperation between India and Europe in space. It thereby complements previous ESPI in-house assessment of this engagement potential with perspectives from India.

The Indian ASAT test from March 27th is a product of India’s changing foreign and defence policy and rather than a mere demonstration of capability, it is a demonstration of readiness - a deterrence tool. International reactions to this event have been mixed and ambiguous whereas no official statement was made by a European institution in reaction to this test.