Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1716 of 13 July 2026 on instructions concerning the security of systems and services deployed, operated and used under the Union Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme which may affect the security of the Union

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1716 14.7.2026 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2026/1716 of 13 July 2026 on instructions concerning the security of systems and services deployed, operated and used under the Union Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme which may affect the security of the Union THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1), in conjunction with Article 31(1), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Having regard to the opinion of the Political and Security Committee,

Whereas:

(1) On 26 May 2026, by means of a diplomatic démarche, the relevant authorities of the United States of America requested the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), in the context of the Union’s Space Threat Response Architecture set up on the basis of Council Decision

(CFSP) 2021/698(1), to delay the dissemination of Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 products concerning a specific geographical area forming part of the Sea of Oman (the ‘specific geographical area’) by 24 hours.

(2) The requested delay in disseminating the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 products concerning the specific geographical area is necessary in order to ensure that products of the Union Space Programme, in particular Copernicus, are not used by any third State or non-State actor in such a way as to present a threat to the interests of the Union and its Member States in the region or to those of their allies. Therefore, the request from the United States authorities should be accepted.

(3) In order to reply to the request from the United States authorities, action at the level of the Union is required.

(4) Pursuant to Article 3 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/698, the Council can issue instructions upon a proposal of the High Representative, including an impact assessment, following, as appropriate, the opinion of the Political and Security Committee (PSC).

(5) In light of the threat to the security of the Union and its Member States, and in accordance with Article 3(4) of Decision (CFSP) 2021/698, the PSC has examined the proposal by the High Representative to introduce a 24-hour delay in the dissemination of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 products concerning the specific geographical area. On 10 June 2026, the PSC issued an opinion in which it supported the proposed measure given the threat posed to the security interests of the Union and its Member States.

(6) It is therefore appropriate to instruct the Commission, which has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Union Space Programme under Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), to take the measures appropriate to ensure that the dissemination of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 products concerning the specific geographical area is subject to a 24-hour delay,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/698 of 30 April 2021 on the security of systems and services deployed, operated and used under the Union Space Programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme which may affect the security of the Union, and repealing Decision 2014/496/CFSP (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 178, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/698/oj).

(2) Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Union Space Programme and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) No 912/2010, (EU) No 1285/2013 and (EU) No 377/2014 and Decision No 541/2014/EU (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 69, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/ reg/2021/696/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1716/oj 1/3EN OJ L, 14.7.2026 Article 1

1. The Council hereby instructs the Commission to take the measures appropriate to ensure that the dissemination of any data acquired by Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites concerning a specific geographical area forming part of the Sea of Oman is delayed by 24 hours from the acquisition of such data.

2. The coordinates of the specific geographical area referred to in paragraph 1 are set out in the Annex.

Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Commission.

Done at Brussels, 13 July 2026.

For the Council The President K. KALLAS 2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1716/ojEN OJ L, 14.7.2026 ANNEX Coordinates of the specific geographical area referred to in Article 1:

P1: 24.340283 N 59.586736 E P2: 21.787419 N 60.356360 E P3: 21.785682 N 61.456222 E P4: 23.009245 N 63.963901 E P5: 24.592884 N 63.998519 E

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1716/oj 3/3