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Cyprus formally joined the European Space Agency (ESA) as an Associate Member this week, a move hailed by officials as a milestone in the island nation’s growing role within Europe’s space and technology landscape.
At a ceremony held at ESA headquarters in Paris, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Dr. Nicodemos Damianou called the accession “the culmination of years of dedicated preparation and close cooperation,” marking Cyprus’ readiness “to play an active and meaningful role in advancing Europe’s space ambitions.”
Since signing its first cooperation agreement with ESA in 2009, Cyprus has steadily deepened its involvement in European space initiatives. The country’s space sector, Damianou noted, has become an integral part of a fast-expanding technology ecosystem that now contributes more than 15 percent of Cyprus’s GDP.
“Today, Cyprus joins ESA as a more mature and forward-looking partner, one that can bring both strategic and operational value within Europe’s growing space landscape,” Damianou said. He added that during Cyprus’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026, space policy will be a key focus, highlighting its role in Europe’s “growth, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy.”
ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher praised the development, describing the partnership as one that has “transformed and elevated the Cypriot space sector.” He thanked the Cypriot government for its commitment to European cooperation and welcomed Cypriot citizens “to a journey of discovery, innovation, and shared progress.”
Cyprus’s associate membership will officially take effect in the coming months, pending ratification by the House of Representatives.
The signing ceremony was attended by ESA delegates and representatives from ESA member states.
