ESA announces slight budget decrease for 2025 as member states cut contributions

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a budget of 7.68 billion euros for 2025, a decrease of about 1.4% from 2024's budget of 7.79 billion euros. This reduction comes as major member states, including Germany, Italy, and the U.K., cut their contributions. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher indicated that some countries, particularly the U.K., may increase their funding in the near future. The agency is preparing a package of programs for a ministerial conference in November, where member states will decide on funding levels for the next three years. Aschbacher emphasized the importance of increasing investments in space, noting that ESA's budget is significantly smaller than NASA's. He did not specify the budget increase he seeks for the upcoming ministerial but highlighted the strategic importance of space for European countries.