European Space Agency Council approves two new directors and prepares its Rome ministerial
26 October 2026
The 350th meeting of the Council of the European Space Agency was held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 21 and 22 October 2026 at delegate level.
The Council approved two new directors who take up their posts on 1 January 2027: Andrzej Banasiak as Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership, and Nicolaus Hanowski as Director of Space Operations.
The Council advanced preparations for the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting, IMM26, to be held in Rome on 15 December.
It discussed the Director General's proposal titled Europe's Future in Space Exploration, which sets out a scalable European path in low Earth orbit, on the Moon and towards Mars.
Member States also reviewed ESA and European Union cooperation, including the first Sherpas meeting of the Commission's Space Team Europe initiative, the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028 to 2034, the European Competitiveness Fund, the EU Space Act and the EUSPA regulation.
ESA emphasised a clear division of responsibilities with the European Union to avoid duplication.
In plain words
ESA European Space Agency — The intergovernmental space agency of European states, with headquarters in Paris.
EUSPA European Union Agency for the Space Programme — The European Union agency that runs the operational side of EU space programmes such as Galileo.