ESPI - European Space Policy Institute

Estonian Presidency

In 2025, the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) has the honour of chairing the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC) under the theme "Security in Space: Europe's Challenges and Opportunities".

Chairpersons of EISC 2025:

Dr. Mario Kadastik, is the Chair of the Estonian Presidency and the Head of the Estonian Delegation to the EISC. He is a member of the Economic Affairs Committee and part of the Reformist Party. Kadastik holds a PhD in particle physics from Tallinn University of Technology. He is part of the CMS experiment at the European Center of Nuclear Physics (CERN).

Toomas Uibo, is a member of the Estonian Delegation to the EISC. He is the Chair of the Eesti 200 Parliamentary Group and a member of the Rural Affairs Committee. Uibo is a pilot, an avid aviation enthusiast and contributes with his expertise in the public and political discourse in Estonia. He is also part of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Estonia.

Tõnis Lukas, is a member of the Estonian Delegation to the EISC. He is part of the Isamaa Parliamentary Group and a member of Cultural Affairs Committee. Lukas has previously served as the Minister of Education and Research in several governments, and as the Minister of Cultural Affairs. Lukas is a member of the Academic Unit of the District of Tartu of the Estonian Defence League.

Dear Members of Parliament, Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to chair the Estonian Presidency of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference throughout the upcoming year. This year’s focus will be “Security in Space: Europe’s Challenges and Opportunities.”

The Estonian Parliament, the Riigikogu, became a member of EISC in 2012 under the lead of Speaker Ene Ergma and Mr Mati Raidma. We held our first EISC Presidency in 2017, focusing on Space and Entrepreneurship. It is our delegation’s honour to continue the work of those before us. We also celebrate 10 years of Estonia in ESA this year, highlighting the importance of space and space policy for Estonia.

Please accept our invitation to join us for the Annual Workshop, taking place on 27-29th of April in Tartu, Estonia. Tartu is the science and research capital of Estonia, and a host to an ESA Business Incubation Center in Estonia. The workshop will include a visit to Tõravere Observatoorium, the largest astronomical observatory in Estonia. The workshop will explore the topics of protecting Europe’s interests in space and using space infrastructure for defence purposes. There will also be dedicated time for internal discussions on the future of EISC and its possible developments on the 29th of April.

Space has become increasingly important in this new geopolitical reality. Be it remote sensing or communications capabilities, both civil and defence actors benefit from the added value of space technologies. Beyond this, the world’s superpowers are actively expressing military ambitions in space, which will inevitably have an effect on European security interests. It is therefore important to address this complex and pressing topic, to see where we stand today in Europe, as well as what can and needs to be done to ensure European strength and resilience.

The annual Congress of EISC will take place im early autumn, between 3-5th of September, at the Riigikogu, in Tallinn. We will use this opportunity to also hold a celebration for 10 years of Estonia in ESA, together with many high-level guests. We look forward to welcoming you all to the plenary for more fruitful discussions.

To enhance and update our best knowledge in the fields of space and defence, we propose to hold a number of informal webinars and online meetings throughout the Estonian Presidency. This will allow delegations to further develop their expertise and keep up with the latest developments in the European space sector.

We hope that this upcoming year will further revitalise the role of national parliaments in Europe’s space policy and become an integral platform for policy making in EISC member states. Finally, we hope to see you all at the upcoming events and look forward to hosting you in two of the most beautiful cities in Estonia.

We look forward to welcoming you to Estonia very soon!

The Topic of the Presidency

Security in Space: Europe's Challenges and Opportunities

EISC Plenary Session

The annual EISC Plenary Session will take place from 3-5 September 2025.

Find information about previous presidencies

Find information about previous presidencies

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