The director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, stated on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, that Europe would need to invest 10 billion euros over the next decade to achieve true space independence. Speaking at the Paris space summit to European ministers of space, Aschbacher posed a rhetorical question: "Will we be passengers or pilots?" He emphasized that this level of investment would amount to about one billion euros annually for ten years. If Europe fails to make this commitment, the ESA estimates it would face significant financial and strategic consequences, costing approximately five billion euros over the same period. According to the ESA, this cost would come from purchasing spaceflight services from foreign providers, most of which would go to non-European industries. This would also mean that European space activities would be subject to the approval and control of other nations. Aschbacher stressed that dependence on foreign space infrastructure and technology is not without cost, both financially and in terms of autonomy. He noted that while Europe is not starting from zero in its space capabilities, the gap between Europe and the world's leading space powers is widening, both in terms of funding and technological advancement. Aschbacher outlined two contrasting scenarios for Europe's future in space. In one, European astronauts would travel aboard a spacecraft built and launched from European territory, destined for a space station constructed using European technologies. In the other, European astronauts would be limited to flying only when given permission and at prices set by foreign space agencies. European scientists, he said, are currently waiting for access to foreign orbital laboratories and are dependent on foreign infrastructure, transportation, and priorities to conduct their research and missions. The ESA director general also highlighted the rapid pace of global space exploration, with countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and India actively pursuing ambitious space projects. He noted the United States' goal of achieving 1,000 launches and atmospheric reentries annually by 2030—approximately three to four launches per day. These developments underscore the urgency for Europe to accelerate its own space ambitions to remain competitive on the global stage.