Council Decision (EU) 2026/434 of 17 February 2026 on the signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme
Date: 2026-02-17
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, Iceland, agreement (EU), extra-atmospheric space, information security, satellite communications, satellite navigation, signature of an agreement, space policy, space technology, use of outer space








L_202600434EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/434


23.2.2026







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2026/434
         
of 17 February 2026
         
on the signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 189 in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


By letter of 14 December 2023, Iceland expressed its formal interest to start negotiations on an agreement in view of participating in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme.












(2)


On 25 February 2025, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on behalf of the Union for the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme (the ‘Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded on 16 June 2025.












(3)


Iceland has a longstanding cooperation with the Union in the area of space, and is participating in several components of the Union Space Programme.












(4)


The Union and Iceland have concluded an agreement on security procedures for the exchange of classified information (1).












(5)


From a geopolitical point of view, the participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and Iceland’s access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, will contribute to strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor and promote international cooperation as defined in the Space Strategy for Europe. An Agreement with Iceland will strengthen the Union’s strategic posture, which is an objective of the European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence.












(6)


Therefore, the Agreement should be signed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of that Agreement (2).


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 17 February 2026.


For the Council


The President

M. KERAVNOS
            





(1)  Agreement between the Republic of Iceland and the European Union on security procedures for the exchange of classified information (OJ L 184, 6.7.2006, p. 35, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2006/467/oj).

(2)  The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/434/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)