Outer Space: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Legal Subcommittee, 64th session, 1074th meeting

Good morning, distinguished delegates. I now declare open the 64th session and 1,074th meeting of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Distinguished delegates, before we begin our consideration, I want to share with you with heartfelt sadness I would like to announce the passing of Mr. Andrzej Misztal of Poland and Mr. Adegun Ade Abiodun of Nigeria. Mr. Andrzej Misztal served as a chair of the Working Group on the Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities of the Legal Subcommittee. He was a longstanding colleague and a dedicated contributor Mr. Adegun Adebiyodom was an expert on space applications at the Office for Outer Space Affairs and a longstanding delegate to the committee. He also served as the chair of the committee from 2004 to 2005. Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Please join me now in observing a minute of silence for Mr. Misztal and for Mr. Abiodun.

Thank you.

Distinguished delegates, you have before you the provisional agenda for the session contained in document A/AC/2011/1. 105/C2/L334. This provisional agenda has been prepared on the basis of the agreement reached at the 2024 session of the committee, as reflected in its report in document A/79/20. This agreement was subsequently Endorsed by the General Assembly in Resolution 79/87 of the 4th of December, 2024. Please note that the annotations are not part of the agenda and that its annex contains an indicative schedule of work. Distinguished delegates, if I hear no objections, may I take it that the agenda is adopted? I see no objection. It is so decided. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to inform delegations that I have received a communication from the following member states of the United Nations: the Principality of Liechtenstein, Malta, and Uganda. Requesting to participate in the meetings of this current session of the Legal Subcommittee as observers. I would also like to inform delegations that I have received a communication from the League of Arab States requesting permission to attend and participate in the meetings of the current session of the Legal Subcommittee. As observer, furthermore, I would like to inform delegations that I have received a communication from the following organizations requesting permission to attend and participate in the meetings of the current session of the Legal Subcommittee as observer. And they are ACES Worldwide and Lunar Policy Platform Foundation. I would therefore like to suggest that in conformity with past practice, we invite those observers to attend the current session and to address the subcommittee as appropriate. And that is, of course, without prejudice to further requests of this nature and does not involve any decisions of the full committee concerning status. It is, as you know, a courtesy that we customarily extend to such delegations. If there is no objection, we will proceed accordingly. It is so decided. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to move to the next item on the agenda and present my statement to the subcommittee. Distinguished delegates, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 64th session of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. And I would like to thank once more the states members of the committee for placing their trust in me as the chair of this subcommittee for the period of 2024 to 2025. And I reassure you of my full commitment. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Mr. President, to advancing the work of the Legal Subcommittee. Distinguished delegates, it is my great pleasure to open my remarks by welcoming Djibouti and Latvia as the newest states members of the Committee. Its membership has now grown to 104 states.

Thank you.

Furthermore, I would like to warmly welcome 5 new permanent observers, namely the African Astronomical Society, the Global Satellite Operators Association, the Outer Space Institute, the Space Data Association, and Space Renaissance International. As the newest international organizations with permanent observer status with the Committee. So in addition to welcoming Djibouti and Latvia, we are also welcoming these 5 new permanent observers as the newest international organizations with permanent observer status with the committee, which in total are now 56. The continuous growth in the membership of the committee by states and space-related international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the growing number of participants clearly underscores the central role of the Committee on the peaceful uses of outer space and of its subsidiary bodies in expanding and strengthening international cooperation for peaceful, safe, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space. Distinguished delegates, for many decades our Legal Subcommittee has made extra extraordinary achievements in advancing international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and is constantly— continuously serving as a unique platform at the global level in supporting common efforts. Through collective progress in developing legal frameworks, We promote awareness in the use of space technology applications at the global, regional, inter-regional, and national level in many critical areas of concern to all humanity for the benefit of present and future generations. It is truly encouraging to see the steady expansion of space operations. In recent years throughout the world. This trend highlights the growing importance of space activities for all nations. But at the same time, it demonstrates the growing need to coordinate legislative efforts, including non-binding guidelines and mechanisms Such efforts are essential to improve global collaboration in space activities to the advantage of all nations, bearing in mind the needs of developing nations. Our joint efforts are aimed at advancing work on all important matters, such as legal mechanisms relating to Space debris mitigation and remediation measures. Legal aspects of space traffic management or coordination. Application of international law to small satellite activities. Legal models for exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources. And transparency and coordination under Article 11 of the Outer Space Treaty. Our agenda covers many pressing issues that require solutions and actions to be identified through the deliberations by the Legal Subcommittee. Distinguished delegations, with political and economic investment at record highs, it is now more important than ever that all actors engaged in space activities comply with the requirements of international space law if we are to ensure the safe and sustainable sustainable use of outer space, greater compliance with the existing frameworks is a must. The importance of these issues is well recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its annual resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. Which reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing international law, including international space law. International space law is the base for strengthening international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. In its resolution, the General Assembly also reaffirms the importance of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space. Distinguished delegates, last year we experienced the grave impact of the liquidity situation of the United Nations. As the situation becomes even more challenging for the organization, I count on support from all of you to conclude our work at this session by adopting a report with the Vienna spirit. Distinguished delegates, The subcommittee has important tasks to consider many areas of space law and space governance, and I'm confident that with your support, the subcommittee will play a pivotal role in fostering dialogue at the global level and strengthening multilateral cooperation, addressing legal and policy dimension of space activities. I would like to draw your attention to the work that we have before us at this session. We will reconvene 3 working groups: the Working Group on the Status and Application of the 5 United Nations Treaties on Outer Space, The Working Group on the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space, and the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities. There will also be a symposium organized by the International Institute of Space Law and the European Center for Space Law. Space Law on the topic Due Regard in Outer Space: Current Legal Implications. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to proceed by reconvening our working groups at this session in order to allow for the chairs of the respective working groups to begin their work. The following working groups of the subcommittee should be reconvened under their respective chairs. Firstly, Working Group on the Status and Application of the 5 United Nations Treaties on Outer Space, under the lead of Ms. Franziska Knurr of Germany as its chair. Secondly, Working Group on the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space, under the lead of Mr. Ian Groszner of Brazil as its chair, and Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities, under the lead of its vice chair, Mr. Stephen Freeland of Australia. Due to the tragic passing of the chair of this working group, Mr. Andrzej Misztal of Poland, I should like to propose that the working group continue its substantive work to be led by Mr. Freeland in his capacity as acting chair until such a time when the subcommittee decides on its bureau. The Secretariat has informed me that at this very point only one nomination has been mentioned for the chair of this Working Group, namely Mr. Freeland from Australia. We have not been made aware of any other nominations. I would therefore like to invite any delegate interested in nominating a candidate to be included in the Bureau of this Working Group to contact me and the Chair by the end of the day on Wednesday, the 7th of May. So at the end of Wednesday, the 7th of May. On Thursday morning, at the beginning of the meeting, I will inform delegates of the status of nominations. Following that, I would invite interested delegates to informal consultations that I plan to hold during lunchtime on Thursday, 8th of May, to see if any general agreement may emerge on the composition of the Bureau. After the informal consultations on Thursday, I suggest that the subcommittee formally take up this matter during its consideration of agenda item 8, general exchange of views on potential legal models for activities in the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources. If I hear no objections, may I take it that this is agreed? Thank you very much. It is so decided. I wish the working groups' chairs and vice chair the very best of luck and success in their work at this session. I should also like to bring to your attention that the following meetings have been scheduled during the time made available for the subcommittees' scheduled meetings to make the best use of available interpretation services for consultations among delegates. as agreed. These are the meetings. The Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation, known as ATLAC, which was established by the committee as its subsidiary body, will hold its meetings with the benefit of interpretation starting from Friday morning, 9th of May, under the lead of its co-chairs. Mr. Hassan Abbas of Pakistan and Ms. Ulpia Elena Botezatu of Romania, in line with the agreement reached during the most recent session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. ATLAC, the Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation, will also hold informal consultations And the schedule of those informal meetings is available from the webpage of the present session of the subcommittee. Following the agreement reached during the same session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, discussions on the matters concerning the management and scheduling of technical presentations will continue during this session of the Legal Subcommittee and will be held by Mr. Prakash Chauhan of India. As requested and pursuant to the agreement reached by the committee in 2023 in paragraph 351, subparagraph E of document A/78/20, the Secretariat made arrangements for for interpretation services to be provided for these discussions, which will be held during the morning meetings of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of May. And following the recommendation made by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its session in February this year to hold a 4th United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or UNISPACE 4, in 2027. There will be further consultations on the objectives, venue, organization, and funding of UNISPACE 4 under Agenda Item 7. That is, future role and method of work of the committee during this session of the Legal Subcommittee. I was informed that informal consultations on Unispace 4 would be led by the delegations of Italy and Morocco, and that the first round of consultations will take place tomorrow. On Tuesday, 6th of May, during the lunchtime. The schedule of all informal meetings on Unispace 4 is available from the session webpage. Distinguished delegates, General Assembly Resolution 3271 requires that members of each United Nations body be informed at the beginning of each session of the resources available to it. I would like to inform you of the arrangements made for the session of our legal subcommittee. Firstly, duration, 5th to 16th of May, 2025. Total number of meetings, 20. Assigned conference or meeting rooms include M Plenary and meeting rooms M3, M5, M6, MOE 23, MOE 24, MOE 26.

MOE 26.

MO113, MO114, MO116, MO118, MO119, MO122, MO123, MO125, and MO127. Simultaneous interpretation: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, and webcast will be provided for the plenary meetings in the 6 official languages of the United Nations. As agreed by the committee at its 61st session in 2018, digital recordings will be provided for this session of the subcommittee. Please note that in the annex to Resolution 56/242, the General Assembly adopted guidelines on limiting the duration of meetings, including the following: meetings with full interpretation services will be limited to 2 3-hour meetings per day for the duration of the session. The meeting times for meetings with conference services will be strictly observed from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. And this is particularly relevant in view of the liquidity measures that are in place across the UN Secretariat. And also in the annex to Resolution 56/242, it equally stipulates that intergovernmental bodies should undertake a review of their meeting patterns and reporting cycles and in coordination with conference management services adjust their meeting requests In addition to the above, financial and capacity constraints in conference management services coincide with a trend of increasing demand for both meeting and documentation services.

Thank you.

The existing capacities cannot accommodate additional workload. There is a need, therefore, to adhere strictly to guidelines on providing interpretation, meeting, and documentation services. Please be reminded that no meeting support will be available after the meeting hours, and that means from, once again, 10 AM to 1 PM and from 3 PM to 6 PM. In particular, ad hoc meetings, informal consultations, meetings beyond regular hours or on non-working days will not be serviced. The Conference Management Service has introduced a number of efficiency measures. Such as increased outsourcing, fully electronic document processing, reduced overtime and night shift, and intensive editorial report drafting assistance. And therefore, close coordination and cooperation between delegations, the substantive Secretariat, and conference management services is even more important. I would also like to remind delegates of the General Assembly's request to cut down on the length of reports issued by the Secretariat, including the reports of intergovernmental bodies. Since the Secretariat continues to be pressured to further reduce the length of our reports, measures will be taken in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Secretary-General towards achieving this. However, I do give you assurances that this will be done in close consultation with delegates and without affecting quality or content of the report. And therefore, I would request your understanding and support in this matter. Distinguished delegates, the draft list of the scheduling of technical presentations is available on the session webpage of the website of the Office for Outer Space Affairs. The list of scheduling of technical presentations was closed the 23rd of April, 2025, to ensure sufficient preparation time for the projection of presentations and also to help the interpreters interpret the scripts with accuracy, delegations should provide the presentation file, script, and if prerecorded, the video file at least 2 working days before the planned delivery of the presentation. In accordance with the decision of the subcommittee at its 52nd session in 2015. The number of technical presentations should be limited to a maximum of 3 presentations per meeting. And with this in mind, I have to inform delegations that the Secretariat has received many requests for technical presentations. And so I would warmly appeal to delegates to keep their presentations within the agreed limit of 10 minutes per presentation. I would also like to remind all delegates that speaking notes for technical presentations should be provided to facilitate simultaneous interpretation. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to begin our consideration of item 3 of our agenda, general exchange of views. In order to enable the subcommittee to commence its consideration of all items of the provisional agenda in a timely and balanced manner, The item entitled General Exchange of Views and Introduction of Reports Submitted on National Activities has been scheduled over a longer period of time during the session. The number of statements to be made under General Exchange of Views at each meeting may be limited as necessary in order to allow sufficient time for other agenda items to be considered as planned for each meeting. Statements should be strictly limited to 5 minutes in length. Please note that the countdown of the minutes will be shown on the screen, and once 5 minutes has passed The speaker will also hear a signal indicating the end of your allocated time. And now we will have a test of the signal sound. I would also like to remind delegates that, as shared by the Secretariat in the briefing on the 10th of April, in principle, the draft report will be reflecting the statements made verbally at the plenary. And thus, delegates who wish to have their views reflected In the report, please be kindly reminded that those views should be verbally expressed at the plenary meetings or during the formal working group meetings. With your permission, I would first like to offer an opportunity under agenda item three. Now, to give the floor to the Office for Outer Space Affairs to provide updates under its mandate of discharging the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the legal regime of outer space, including an urgent briefing on the impact of the liquidity crisis on the Office of Outer Space Affairs. And this statement will be delivered by Ms. Arti Holomaini in her function as Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs. And if there are no objections, I will give the floor to Ms. Holomaini.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I'm honored to welcome you all to this session of the Legal Subcommittee. Deputy Director Driss El Hadani and I are now in our second cycle of COPUOS, and I can confidently say that we are impressed by the initiatives within COPUOS to deliver on the priorities of the space sector. The Outer Space Treaty and the subsequent treaties, principles, guidelines, and resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly have played a vital role in enabling the last 6 decades of space activities. Now, your deliberations on critical issues such as space resources, space traffic, space debris, lunar consultations, and on Unispace war can play an equally vital role in enabling the safe continuation and sustainable development of space activities for the decades to come. This is why the space sector at large looks to COPUSS for critical guidance and is watching to see if COPUSS can indeed deliver on the multilateral solutions that are needed to address current priorities. Excellencies, most of you know me by now. I have worked hard to fulfill and defend the mandate of COPUS since the first day of my appointment, 1.5 years ago. Because I have every respect for you and for this body, I will always be open and frank with you. We must not lose precious time focusing on procedures and formalities over substance and solutions. UNUSA and your discussions on space are reaching a watershed moment. Space activities are presenting us with urgent realities, and our task is to ensure that we rise to the occasion and deliver on the needs of the day. I am committed to this, but I am increasingly concerned by the escalating escalation of feedback that I have received in recent months expressing reservations about COPUS's ability to deliver the solutions that we need on time. While stakeholders do not question the legitimacy of this high body, their doubts are fueled by observing an undue loss of precious time on procedure. Just last week, I had a call with a senior colleague who has been in the United Nations for 30 years. He said, Arthy, the UN is at a major inflection point. We must be entrepreneurial and dynamic, or we become dinosaurs. Some of you may believe that this kind of spirit is not appropriate for this body, but the reality is that the entire United Nations is now trying to embody this spirit in order to remain relevant and in a fast-changing and ever-divided world. As the custodians of the peaceful uses of outer space, I do not need to tell you how fast this sector is evolving. I am a lawyer myself, and I know there are many interesting legal topics that can be studied and discussed. My call to you is to remain focused during the coming 2 weeks, to use your valuable time to advance and take action where it is truly needed, using the famous Vienna spirit to its full extent, so that your work remains directly relevant to the needs of our time. The challenges of today's space activities remain unresolved, and other bodies may step in to resolve them if we are unable to act in a timely manner. If we want to maintain the centrality of this High Committee and keep Vienna as the centre of gravity of space governance. We must overcome inertia, and we must be prepared to innovate in how we work in order to deliver on our mandate. There is really important work in progress at LSE this year, and you have before you an opportunity that is not to be missed. The Space Resources Working Group can make good can make a good start on the draft principles that have been circulated to States just a few weeks ago. The Working Group on the 5 Treaties can transition from exchanging initial views on Article 11 and information sharing to actually considering concrete tools for their operationalization. ATLAG can give a final push to their work plan so that it is ready for endorsement by COPUS in June, and so that substantive work can finally begin. These are vital, tangible work streams that can deliver much-needed results that can be presented to the world at a potential Unispace 4 conference in 2027, which in itself presents another key area in which you have an opportunity to make important progress. Under my leadership, UNUSA will be open to change. We will seek to maximize opportunities for all member states. We will be dynamic, and we will share our expertise. Having seen the work of this subcommittee, I know this message will be embraced and that your work will be delivered with ambition. I look forward to hearing from all of you and working with you in the coming weeks. Chairs, distinguished delegates, you can rest assured that UNUSA is at your side and is doing its part. Next week, we will be convening the 2nd meeting of National Focal Points on Registration, which will contribute to developing a toolkit on registration practices in the 3rd quarter of this year, which will empower all nations to establish national registration frameworks. I would also like to inform you of a capacity-building workshop jointly organized by UNUSA and the ITU in early June, entitled From an ITU Filing to Registration with UNUSA: The Lifecycle of a Satellite. This will benefit both the Vienna and the Geneva communities. With space sustainability and socioeconomic growth and prosperity taking center stage right now, states are becoming more aware of the need for robust legal frameworks. As such, we continue to help states develop space law and policies that promote economic investment and underpin national space activities through our Space Law for New Space Actors project. We still have a list of over 60 countries who are waiting for our assistance in this field, and we are proactively fundraising to support this demand and implement COPUAS commitments. A side event on this topic will take place on Thursday, the 8th of May. On this topic, I would also like to commend the Philippine Space Agency on the launch of their book, Tala and Her Journey to Space, which educates children on space law. Chair, distinguished delegates, during this subcommittee meeting, we will also have 3 very topical side events. Firstly, on commercial perspectives on space situational awareness. Secondly, on space traffic, managing versus coordinating. What is the difference and why does it matter? And finally, on enabling active debris removal and in-orbit servicing missions. Chair, distinguished delegates, you have now heard a bit about our tangible impact in the areas of space policy and law and how your work is critical. I hope you see that this impact can only be maintained through an honest and open conversation with you. So I have to be honest. The year 2025 has started on a challenging note for us in the Secretariat, with the liquidity crisis critically affecting delivery of our mandates across the 5 pillars of UNUSA strategy. And I would like to use my remaining time to inform you about this. If we could please have the presentation slides.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much to Director Holomany. I would like to thank you for your statement and her presentation on behalf of the office. We, as you know, and as has been said, have a very dense agenda before us. Thank you very much. The Secretariat has prepared a presentation for us, and therefore I would suggest that any questions related to this presentation be addressed to the Secretariat outside of our meeting, and that we continue our consideration of the agenda item on the general exchange of views. I give the floor to the Director once again for her presentation. Thank you very much.

So, distinguished delegates, I have to brief you on the UNOOSA resources situation at the beginning of 2025. First of all, allow me to present you the trends, which I'm sure you understand well. Space activities are increasing. The number of satellites launched, the numbers of members joining— states joining COPUSS and applying for COPUSS membership, and the number of space missions that are being launched. Despite these trends, the UNUSA budget continues to decrease and has decreased again in 2025. On this slide, I would like to highlight to you the budget that was approved by the Fifth Committee versus what was allocated to our office. You can see that the overall regular budget that has been approved is $5.52 million. However, due to liquidity, we have been allocated only approximately $4.2 million. Specifically, if we consider salaries, whereas the approved budget was $4.4 million, the allocation is far less than what we need to pay our salaries. It is only $3.7 million. Concerning non-post-budget, the approval was just short of $1 million, yet what we received is less than half, $414,000. The general temporary assistance that was approved was $0.18 million, yet we received only $25,000.

Thank you.

You can see drastic reductions in what has been allocated to our office despite what was— what has been approved. This results from an indiscriminate application of budget cuts to what is already a small office. If we take a deep dive look into the non-post-budget This is important because it includes grants for developing countries, our travel budget, workshop, IT support, and consultants. The amount that was allocated, the $414,000, needs to be further reduced, first of all to cover the salary shortfall, which right now is $85,000 but may potentially increase to $100,000 or more. It is— it needs to be reduced to cover existing commitments that were already made based on our assumption that we would receive what was approved, and also unavoidable running costs, operational costs that our office must cover. As a result, that leaves our office with $75,000 for capacity-building grants, which is where we bring representatives from developing countries to join our events, to participate in our workshops and so on, $37,000 for the entire office to travel during 2025, and $23,000 for capacity-building work of UN-Spider. Overall, this translates into a 73% reduction in the work program activities of our office this year being cancelled. I'm sure you can appreciate that this is dramatic and significant. The impact on staff. Critical positions cannot be filled. I've listed for you the Head of Space Applications Section, P5, the Head of the UN Spider-Bonn Office, P4, Project Officer for Registration, P3, Government Relations Officer, P3 as well. The shortfall is not just a financial issue, it has strategic consequences. By not being able to fill the P4 heading up our SPIDER office in Bonn, it means that important missions to Gambia and Namibia and Dominican Republic will not happen. It means that promotion of the International Charter and the Copernicus EMS to your disaster management agencies will stop, and it means that the Global Knowledge Portal stagnates. The unfilled P3 Project Officer for Registration means that the digital upgrade which is needed to track the vast increase of space objects being launched is on hold. Registration backlogs and safety of flight risks rise for all member states. The eliminated GTA P3 post means that UNUSA may no longer be able to respond to every government inquiry or convene on all coordinate— all coordination meetings. And it means that Unispace 4 preparations will proceed with one fewer expert, directly diminishing member state influence on the agenda. The P5 Head of Space Applications Programme— this is the section which delivers the Space Applications Programme entirely— will have no leader. One officer must now juggle the UN SPIDER coordination across 3 offices and section management, halving capacity and placing field support to your countries in jeopardy. Other positions will be lost this year. Namely 3 JPO contracts will not be able to be renewed. And of course you will understand that this situation has a strong impact on the well-being of my staff. We suffer already from an extreme workload. It provides— it produces uncertainty in the office and great anxiety. But at a higher level, this reduced funding and liquidity crisis causes an enormous hiring fee freeze. And as you know, the 5th Committee doesn't look at the liquidity crisis. It simply looks at the fact that posts are vacant, and if they remain vacant, it cuts them. The impact on events. I know that this will interest you a lot. Some events we will be able to continue with, but with modifications. Important bringing them to Vienna to start with to reduce costs, reducing the number of participants that will participate that we can fund to attend. And another— so that affects the Space Law Conference and affects the event on Dark and Quiet Skies. The International Committee on GNSS, the ICG, will only have one workshop which will take place in Nigeria because we have a host country agreement with them. However, it will have a reduced number of participants, and staff can only travel thanks to XP. The following events are cancelled unless we can raise significant voluntary contributions for them: World Space Forum, UNGA High-Level Week, Regional Centers Directors Meeting, the IAC workshop on space Space Science and Technology, the Space for Water workshop on Earth observation for water quality, access to space for all, the 2 rounds of HyperGES and Drop Test, participation in UN events, the SDI Forum, the High-Level Policy Forum, and the HLPC, and SPIDER institutional strengthening missions to various countries, UN Space, Our office's participation at COP30, the planned expert meeting of regional centers, the Space for Women expert meeting, the UN Grant Symposium, the Space for Global Health, and the SPIDER regional workshop, which this year was intended to focus on small island developing states. You can see that there is a significant impact on our operations. With many flagship events being cancelled, such as the World Space Forum, UN Space, or COP30, our presence at it, this means that the global dialogue stalls. UNUSA's absence and copious work is not highlighted or defended. 70% of trainings and workshops carried out by our office are gone this year. All developing country experts, especially those from small island developing states and least developed countries, lose support. Access to space for all rounds have been scrapped, which means that student innovation pipelines break, and regional centre meetings and expert missions are halted, leaving countries without any technical backup. Our commitments are unmet. There is a reputational risk for the Office and for member states. The visibility and credibility of our office and of COPUS decreases as a result.

Can— yeah.

The impact on member states visualized with a world map here. No training for around 540 experts from 90 developing countries. That is what we achieved last and what we hoped to improve on this year, we will not be able to do that. And when we look at our numbers, 72% of the experts that were trained by our office come from very high-impact states. The loss of trained practitioners results in delays in SDG reporting, slower disaster response times, and weaker climate adaptation planning across different continents. However, of course, we try to be optimistic and we are looking towards a solution. The good thing is that the shortfall is only $1.3 million, which in the grand scheme of things is not that bad. We know that you praise us on the work that we are doing. We have received, received universal praise on the activities that we have carried out and organized. And on the work that has been done. We are stepping up our efforts towards member states for extra budgetary contributions, and more private sector funding will be needed to fill the gap. The bad is, however, that the situation is dire and it risks getting worse. I'm referring to future budget availability and the potential impact of the UNATP process, which is currently underway. The ugly, I unfortunately have to say that we are still asked to present lengthy proposals for, if you forgive my characterizing it, this very small amounts of money, peanuts. We do not have time to write lengthy proposals for small amounts of funding. Finally, the leadership response and member state support, my final slide. What have we done as an office? We have conducted a strategic review of the office. We had a consultant who assessed the ability of the office to deliver on mandate and on member state expectations. The consultant identified additional resource requirements and the need to enhance our visibility within the UN system, especially in New York. We have developed project proposals. in line with your priorities, and those proposals have been shared with member states. We have conducted high-level engagement and advocacy and a series of crisis meetings with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, with the Programme, Planet and Budget Division— so the Comptroller's Office in New York— and with member states and permanent missions. And we are very active in doing fundraising and resource mobilization. with targeted outreach to traditional donors and foundations. We have established a multi-partner trust fund, an MPTF, to provide predictable long-term financial support for space sustainability and space for the Sustainable Development Goals. What can you as member states do? We invite you to please make the case for this small office in New York, both with your permanent missions— make sure that they are aware of the importance of this office, the importance that you attach to our work, and the importance of the need to advocate with the United Nations in New York, but also with the Secretary-General directly. Please also review the proposals that we have made. 2 more will be coming to you shortly. Select the proposals that meet, resonate with your priorities, and that respond to your expectations. And please work to mobilize resources to support us urgently. Please be the difference, make the difference between stalled capacity that you see right now and accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. I thank you for having allowed me to give this presentation to you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, Director. First of all, I'd like to apologize to the Director and to participants. The Chair was so gratified by the opening statement made by the Director regarding the relevance and the significance of our work. I wanted us to immediately turn our attention to our work and get to it. But that said, once again, allow me to sincerely thank Thank you very much, Director. I would like to thank the Director for all of the information that she has shared with us in her presentation. As I had said earlier, I would like to suggest that any questions related to this presentation be addressed to the Secretariat outside our meeting and that we now continue our consideration of the agenda item on the general exchange of views. So once again, thank you very much to the Director. For her presence, for her statement and presentation, distinguished delegates. We have a very dense agenda before us, and I would like to appeal to you all that we proceed in a constructive and cooperative manner. I would like to once again remind delegations that statements should be limited. Strictly to 5 minutes. Please also note that as per practice for all agenda items, representatives of groups of states deliver statements first, followed by representatives of member states, and then the floor— so first of all, representatives of groups of states, then representatives of member states, and then the floor is given to representatives of observer organizations. Please be kindly reminded that the list of speakers is published on the webpage of this session of the subcommittee ahead of each meeting. Distinguished delegates, I now turn to the list of speakers. Thank you very much. And the first speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf— the representative of Morocco who is speaking on behalf of the G77 and China. Thank you. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. On behalf of the G77 and China, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Santiago Ripoll Carola of Spain for his chairmanship of the 63rd session of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUS and assure you and all members of the Bureau of our full support during the session. The group takes the opportunity to thank the Director of the Office of Outer Space Affairs, Madame Arti Hola-Maini, and the Secretariat for the preparation and planning for convening this meeting. Chair, at the outset, the G77 and China reiterates its strict adherence to the principle governing the activity of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including those in the Outer Space Treaty and as outlined in Resolution General Assembly 1962, 18th Session, and Resolution General Assembly 1884, 18th Session. The group wants to underscore its firm conviction that the use of and exploration of outer space shall be carried and exclusively for peaceful purposes, for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, respective of their degree of economic and scientific development, and in conformity with applicable international law. The group also urges states to refrain from promulgating, adopting, and applying any unilateral economic, financial, and trade measures and the related action contrary to the international law and the Charter of the United Nations, mindful that they hamper or impede access to space and space activities, particularly in developing countries. All outer space activity, including megaconstellation and the related operation, should fully respect the UN Charter international law and the principle of non-intervention. The principle of non-appropriation states that outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, are not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use of occupation, or by any other means. Another fundamental principle is the universal and equal access to outer space for all countries without discrimination, regardless of their levels of scientific, technical, and economic development, as well as the equitable and rational use of outer space for the benefit and in the interest of all humankind. We recall that the principle of non-militarization of outer space implies that it shall never be used for the placement or the deployment of weapons of any kind, and as province of mankind, its strict use must be for the improvement of living conditions and peace among peoples. The group believes that any endeavor to explore or utilize outer space must adhere to the principle and objective of international law, United Nations treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty. All outer space activities have to be coordinated and under the relevant UN treaty and international law. It is imperative to increase efforts so that the benefits from outer space activity can be extended to all states. Developing countries are increasingly engaging in space activities and in the membership and discussion of copious. In line with this, it is important to highlight that the international cooperation in the development of space activities also a paramount principle, especially for those referred to into the Declaration of International Cooperation in the Exploration of Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, taking in particular account the needs of the developing countries. Furthermore, and in line with the enhancement of international cooperation in outer space activities, it is vital to promote wider participation of developing countries through proactively rendering assistance by advanced spacefaring nations. The sustainable use of outer space should be— should place special emphasis on capacity-building activities to bridge the huge divide between developed and developing countries in this domain, and address the growing need to secure sufficient resources to this end. We also underscore the continued relevance of SDGs, the Space 2030 Agenda, and its implementation plan. In this regard, the group emphasizes the need for COPUOS to devote more efforts for capacity building in space law and policy and make the required expertise available to developing countries facilitated by UNOSA. Chair, the group notes the increased role of non-governmental organizations in space activities and reiterates the relevance of Article 6 of Outer Space Treaty in this regard, particularly the responsibility of states party to the treaty for national activity national activities in outer space, and that the activities of non-governmental organizations in outer space shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate state party to the, to the treaty. The group underscores the importance of appropriate funding, as well as the mobilization of extra-budgetary resources to enable the Office to provide Valuable support for developing countries, including through UNOSA capacity building program and technical assistance. Chair, the group reiterates that COPUS, with its two subcommittees, is the only UN forum to discuss comprehensively all matters related to peaceful to the peaceful uses of outer space, including moon and celestial bodies. Accordingly. The group believes that the international legal framework should be developed in a manner that addresses all concerns of all states. The G77 and China will engage in the discussion during the session of the Legal Subcommittee and will express its views under each specific agenda item as appropriate. Finally, the G77 and China, it is important To reach consensus on the report for the committee and its subcommittees in order to make progress on issues related to the peaceful uses of outer space conductive to our collective advantages, thus avoiding politicization and prolongation of discussion that exceeds the mandate of COPUS. Thank you.

I would like to thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. For his statement on behalf of the G77 and China, the following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso on behalf of the African Group. You have the floor.

Merci, Monsieur le Président.

Thank you very much, Chair.

The African Group. I would like to express you my appreciation for your continued leadership. On the Legal Committee and assure you and the members of the Bureau of our full cooperation. The Group also expresses its appreciation to the Director of the Office of Outer Space Affairs, Mrs. Arti Olamaini, and the Secretariat for preparing— for preparation for this meeting. At the outset, the Africa Group aligned itself with the G77 and China. Mr. Chair, as Africa continues to bear a disproportionate share of global poverty and the impact of climate change, the group emphasizes the growing significance of space-related activities in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, the group reaffirms its strong commitment to 2020-2030 Sustainable Development Goals, its implementation plan, and the African Union Agenda 2063. The group welcomes the inauguration of the African Space Agency, which took place on April 20, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt, representing a major step forward Africa's space aspirations to harness space science and technology for socioeconomic advancement. The group calls upon international partners to strengthen collaboration and support to the African Space Agency with the view to support African countries on their aspiration and developmental goals. The group welcomes the convening of the New Space Africa Conference in Egypt in April 2025, and further encourage African countries and partners to collaborate in such events to advance space science and applications in Africa. The group reaffirms that COPUSS remains the sole United Nations forum for addressing issues concerning the peaceful use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and encourages other states especially African countries, to consider membership. The group underscores the peaceful use and exploration of outer space for the benefits of countries and without discrimination to economic or scientific development in line with the principle and objectives of international law, United Nations treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty. This includes the principle of non-appropriation of outer space space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. All outer space activities have to be coordinated under the auspice of the UN in order to be inclusive, universal, and consensual. The group appreciates the work carried out by the Legal Subcommittee in promoting international cooperation on the peaceful use of outer space and underscores the importance of adhering to the principle of non-militarization of outer space, which implies that it shall never be used in the placement and/or deployment of weapons of any kind. The group calls for enhanced inter-regional and international cooperation to build regional and indigenous capabilities to be responsive to our challenges, capacities, building, capacity building, and technical assistance remain key factors in knowledge transfer and building expertise. Chair, the sustainable use of outer space must prioritize capacity building efforts to bridge the significant gap faced by Africa and ensure and secure the necessary resources to support these initiatives. Investing in space technologies is a powerful driver for empowering African women and youth, particularly through STEM education, contributing to inclusive and sustainable development across the continent. The group underscores the need to consolidate the principle of benefit sharing in outer space and long-term sustainability, particularly for the benefits of African countries. The group recommends for the collective consideration of member states the idea of establishing an innovative support framework for developing countries. One potential mechanism to explore is a support or contribution system whereby major spacefaring nations, non-traditional donors, and private commercial sector space actors contribute financially or in kind to a fund mechanism that supports developing countries. Such mechanism and fund can be administered by the UN Office of Outer Space. The group reaffirmed its commitment to LSE and look forward to the adoption of his report by consensus. Thank you.

I would like to thank the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso for her statement on behalf of the African Group. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Chair, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. Albania and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. Chair, I would like to assure you of our full support and cooperation and thank UNOSA for its excellent work and Director Ola Maini for her able leadership. We commend UNOSA for the Space Law and Policy Conference last November. It fostered an inclusive dialogue and highlighted numerous aspects of global governance, principle of international space law, and mechanism for cooperation and collaboration on space activities. The Pact for the Future reaffirms the importance of the widest possible adherence to and full compliance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the cornerstone of the international legal regime governing outer space activities, and the need to establish new frameworks for space traffic, space debris, and space resources through COPOS. It also underscores the critical role of a safe and sustainable use of space in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. We look forward to an early agreement on the objectives, the new organization, and funding of the UNISPACE-4 Conference in 2026. 2007, and expect UNOSA to have the necessary resources to properly implement its mandate. As responsible space actors, the EU and its member states are committed to promoting the universalization and implementation of international instruments on outer space, in particular the Outer Space Treaty. We encourage all states to join and fully implement the UN treaties on outer space. The Working Group on the 5 UN treaties on outer space is important to review the status of these treaties, their implementation, and obstacles to their universal acceptance, and to promote space law. We welcome that the Working Group agreed on a work plan on the implementation of Article 11 of the Outer Space Treaty, And we'll start the preparation of a template or a model submission form that could be offered to state and international intergovernmental organizations as a voluntary tool. We also welcome the progress made within the Working Group on Legal Aspect of Space Resource Activities and the upcoming Space Resource Week hosted by Luxembourg and the 8th Space Resource conference in Kraków, Poland, on the path to lunar sustainability this May. Both events will provide valuable inputs to the working group and should facilitate consensus building on outstanding issues, in particular the drafting of a set of initial recommended principles for space resource activities. Likewise, the EU and its Member States acknowledged the positive discussion within the Working Group on Long-Term Sustainability and encouraged continued work on the implementation of the 21 Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines, capacity building on emerging challenges, and the adoption of recommendations that could be included in its final report in 2026. Chair, Work is ongoing at European level to advance space traffic management as set out in the joint communication on STM and affirmed by the EU member states. We are currently developing capabilities and frameworks and have developed bilateral and multilateral partnerships with international partners. As part of EU space surveillance and tracking, also non-EU European users benefit from the collision avoidance services and from the reentry and fragmentation services. The European Commission was pleased to contribute to the first-ever UN Space Sustainability Days in January 2025. This was an important initiative from UNOSA to build capacities on space surveillance and tracking and space traffic coordination. We take note of the proposal for the establishment of an expert group on space situational awareness and of a study group on legal and policy aspects of space traffic. Chair, the EU reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the field of space security, advancing the development of norms, rules, and principles that promote responsible behavior in outer space and supporting the efforts of the international community in preventing an arms race in all its aspects in outer space. We supported the establishment of an open-ended working group on the prevention of arms race in outer space in all its aspects by the General Assembly last year. We will continue to participate in this work in an active and constructive manner, with the hope that the process would result in a substantive outcome to strengthen space security. Chair, we underline the utmost importance of the UN Charter and of our provision of international law in exploration and use of outer space. In this context, we continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the DPRK's illegal action in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions, including its satellite launch using ballistic missile technology. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much, distinguished representative of the European Union. for your statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, Slovenia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union. In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize a few points in my national capacity. First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, for your leadership and to extend my best wishes for your success in guiding the 64th session of this subcommittee. I would also like to thank Ms. Arti Oulamaini, Director of the Office of Outer Space Affairs, for her outstanding leadership in advancing global space initiatives and her unwavering commitment to supporting all spacefaring nations around the world. Slovenia remains steadfast in its support for the work of this subcommittee, and my delegation reaffirms our commitment to being a responsible and active participant in the global space community. As many delegations have rightly acknowledged, COPUS and its subcommittees serve as a central forum for the development of legal framework governing space activities. It is vital that all of us contribute constructively to these discussions, with the shared goal of ensuring the safety, sustainability, and resilience of outer space and by extension the well-being of our planet. The decisions we make today will shape the future of space exploration and utilization for generations to come, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the benefits of outer space are accessible to all everywhere. In recent years, Slovenia's space sector has gained significant visibility and has become increasingly active. This progress was driven in part by our involvement with the European Space Agency, but it was only made possible by the recognition from our government of the immense value that space exploration brings to the advancement of human development, here on Earth. I am proud to say that space exploration has now become a national priority for Slovenia, with the aim of harnessing its potential to improve the quality of life for our citizens and for humanity at large. In an era characterized by escalating global challenges, Slovenia firmly believes that international cooperation and a multilateral approach are indispensable to advancing the global space sector. We wholeheartedly welcome initiatives that contribute to the peaceful exploration of space for the benefit of all humankind. As a testament to our commitment to multilateralism, Slovenia became a signatory of the Artemis Accords in April of last year. further affirming our dedication to fostering international collaboration in space exploration. When we speak of a multilateral approach, we view UNOOSA and COPUS as central to addressing the most pressing issues within the current space environment, with one of the foremost challenges being space traffic management. Since our presidency of the European Union in 2021, Slovenia has consistently recognized STM as a critical issue on the global space agenda. In this regard, we strongly support the creation of a dedicated working group to address the legal aspects of STM and to ensure that our shared space environment remains safe and sustainable for all users. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, we look forward to the upcoming ISL/ACSL colloquium and warmly, warmly welcome the contributions of permanent observers to the work of this committee. We also look forward to a continued discussion on the organization of Unispace 4 and agreement on the organizational matters and expected outcomes of this important event. We should build on the achievements of Pact for the Future and acknowledge the necessity of creating new structures to address the most urgent concerns. My delegation remains committed to engaging in fruitful discussions and looks forward to achieving meaningful, meaningful outcomes during this session. I thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Slovenia, for your statement. Following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Singapore.

Chair, Singapore extends our appreciation to you for your leadership of the subcommittee and to the Secretariat for its excellent support. Singapore is a steadfast supporter of COPUSS and UNOOSA as entities underpinning the global space development and a multilateral rules-based system. We were delighted to welcome UNOOSA's Director, Ms. Hola Maini, to Singapore this February for Singapore's Annual Week of Space Activities. Her visit facilitated in-depth engagements with diverse stakeholders from the Asia-Pacific region on regional and global developments in the peaceful uses of outer space and underscored the importance of ensuring that space remains safe, sustainable, and accessible to all. Following the publication of our National Guidelines on Space Safety and Sustainability, as well as forming our National Registry of Space Objects in 2024, Singapore is taking a step further on our path towards developing a comprehensive domestic space law framework. UNUSA's assistance will be critical in that regard. We are therefore pleased to announce that the Office for Space Technology and Industry, Singapore's national space office, is partnering with UNUSA through the Space Law for New Space Actors program to ensure that our domestic framework is robust and fit for purpose. As legal subcommittee embarks on its programme of work, Singapore looks forward to discussions on the legal aspects of space resource activities and the application of international law to small satellite activities. We support the continued application of existing international treaties and non-binding frameworks to guide such activities, and look forward to hearing other delegations' views on the same. Beyond COPUAS, Singapore will participate actively at the national, regional, and international levels to exchange best practices and to support initiatives that advance the peaceful uses of outer space. For example, Singapore hosted an Air and Space Law Conference in August 2024 to discuss emerging legal and policy issues around air and space navigation, co-organized by the National University of Singapore's Faculty of Law Law and McGill University's Institute of Air and Space Law, the conference brought together government representatives, academics, legal experts, and students for rich discussions on a range of topics that included perspectives on new ways to regulate space activities, space resources and salvage rights, and commercial space exploration. At the regional level, we are pleased to continue our work with with the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum's National Space Legislation Initiative, which is now in its 3rd phase and addressing new topics such as mechanisms to accelerate the space economy. Chair, we reaffirm our commitment to the objectives and purpose of COPUAS. Singapore supports an open, inclusive, and rules-based approach to the peaceful, responsible, and sustainable use of space for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore for her statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Slovakia.

Mr. Chair, distinguished Jewish delegates. Space policy in Slovakia is coordinated by the Slovak Space Office, which was established on the 1st January '21 by the government resolution at the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic. During the past year, important milestones in the Slovak space policy were reached. In May '24, the Slovak Republic signed the Zero Debris Charter and strengthened its commitment to the long-term sustainability of human activities in space. Building on the success of GRB Alpha launched in 2021, the mission GRB Beta was launched on July 24th on the maiden flight of the European Space Agency's Ariane 6. Both missions successfully demonstrate that gamma-ray burst monitoring could be performed efficiently by nanosatellites, complementing large astrophysical missions and is paving the way for future constellations of gamma-ray burst monitoring nanosatellites. The satellites also provide valuable information about the particle environment in low Earth polar orbit during the current high solar activity. GRB Beta was developed under the leadership of the Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Aeronautics, and is the result of the work of an international team of scientists from Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, and Canada. GRB Beta was created with the financial support of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. In November last year, the National Council of the Slovak Republic approved the Act on the Regulation of Space Activities, which entered into force on February this year. This act governs the conduct of regulated space activities with the National Registry of Space Objects. In December '24, the Slovak government adopted the Slovak Space Strategy. The Slovak Space Strategy was prepared due to the need to highlight the strategic importance and relevance of space activities in the Slovak Republic and to outline the vision and goals of their development. As this is a highly cross-cutting area, the document defines the competencies of responsible ministries, and informs about the current system of space activities management in the Slovak Republic with a view to their over-ministerial management in the future. The strategy outlines the vision for the development of space activities in Slovakia in the following areas: research and education, services for the state administration and population, development of the space industry, security and defence, and popularisation of space activities. The individual measures for the development of the space sector will be set out in more detail in an action plan which will follow up on this strategy. The Ministry of Education organised the Slovak Space Forum in March this year. The event was attended by, by state secretaries of ministries responsible for the space agenda in Slovakia. The aim of this meeting was to intensify inter-ministerial cooperation in the field of space policy. At this event, we could also welcome representatives of academia, the private sector, USPA, and ESA. In conclusion, my delegation reiterates its commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and for all of humankind.

Thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of Slovakia. Thank you. The following speaker on my list, the following speaker is the distinguished representative of France. Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Président.

Thank you, Chairperson. Chairperson, Madam Director, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues. I would also I would like to begin by thanking you, Chairperson. For your efforts to move forward with the work of this subcommittee. My thanks also go to the Director of the Office of Outer Space Activities— rather, Affairs— and her team for organizing this session and for the presentation we just had. We endorse the statement by the EU, and we would like to make the following comments in our national capacity. Chairperson, France is committed to the work of the UN COPRO And we believe that this subcommittee must remain seized of new legal matters raised in connection with the development of civilian space activities, so as to craft a consensus-based and coherent body of international law. I would like this year once again to emphasize the need for outer space to be explored and utilized. Freely and peacefully, in other words, in a non-aggressive manner for the benefit and interests of all peoples. In that connection, we call for the relevant major UN treaties and conventions on outer space activities to enjoy universal adhesion and rigorous application, especially the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which is the cornerstone of international space law. Mr. Chairperson, since 2008, France has had a law on space operations that establishes a system of licensing and ongoing monitoring of space activities conducted by French operators or from French territory in line with international rules. The most recent amendments in 2023 and 2024 create a regulatory and technical framework for the responsible development in line with our international commitments of new space activities. France will continue to brief the subcommittee on evolutions in our legislation and regulatory framework. France continues against this backdrop to support the initiatives of states that seek to craft and put in place legislation and regulatory frameworks. In that connection, since 2022, France has been active within the Space Law for New Space Actors program alongside a number of states and will continue this year our commitment to that. Chairperson France pays tribute to the commitment of the late Chairman Ambassador Andrzej Miechdal, to whom I wish to pay tribute, and of the Vice chairperson Stephen Freeland in leading the deliberations of the Working Group on the Exploration, Utilization, Exploitation of Space Resources, which raises unprecedented legal issues. The document of the vice chair is an excellent basis for us to move forward during this session. Before I conclude, I would like to recall, Chairperson, our 3 priorities to contribute to the peaceful use of outer space. Namely, we support initiatives in favor of the environment and combating climate change, particularly in the framework of the Space Climate Observatory. Secondly, the French delegation reiterates its commitment to the long-term sustainability of space activities, particularly via implementation by states of the 21 guidelines. Those provide a robust, concrete, and essential foundation for our current work. Finally, we support the organization of the UNISPACE 4 conference in 2027 and our efforts to come to agreement on deliverables and logistical aspects. Our efforts need guidance that will give new impetus to space activities for the years to come, notably on the key issues of of space traffic coordination, space debris prevention, and the definition of space resources. Thank you for your attention, and I wish all of us every success during this session.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of France for her statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Italy.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. Italy fully aligns with a statement delivered by the European Union, and I would like to add a few remarks in my national capacity. First, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. Chair, to preside over the 64th session of the Legal Subcommittee. My delegation expresses its full support for a successful session. I also wish to express to UNOZA— I mean, strong appreciation to UNOZA for the valuable preparatory work and the taken in the organization of this session, and more broadly to Director Ollamaini for her strong leadership. We heard you with great concern. We heard your call, and reiterating Italy's full support for the Nostra Mandata, I hope the same applies to the whole membership in order to take the necessary actions. We, Italy, have no reservation. Mr. Chair, allow me to highlight an important national development In the light of— well, voilà, it should be another no anyway. Where is it? Okay. Skipping the pages, allow me to align another national development in the light of our discussion. A draft law entitled Measures Relevant to the Space Economy has been submitted to the Parliament and is currently under consideration. It aims to complete the national legal framework for space sector, building on the principle of safety, resilience, and environmental sustainability. Among other aspects, the draft law establishes a mechanism for the authorization and supervision of space activity, as well as a shared liability system with private operators, together with innovation and economic growth provision. The proposed measures to strengthen innovation and economy in the space sector include the development of a multi-annual national space economy plan. Mr. Chair, Italy attaches great importance to capacity building in the field of space law and policy and is particularly committed to supporting initiatives with emerging spacefaring nations. Uh, in this context, Italy Through the Sapienza University of Rome and in cooperation with the Italian Space Agency, has supported UNOSA Space Law for New Space Actors projects. As part of this effort, a technical assistance mission was held in Morocco in September 2024, where several experts successfully shared their knowledge and experience in the field of space law, national regulatory, and policy. Mr. Chair, we appreciate the ongoing discussion and possible legal models for the exploration and use of space resources, including in the framework of the relevant working group. We take this opportunity to reiterate our deepest condolences on the sudden passing of Ambassador Mitzal, whose leadership as chair of the working group was invaluable. In this regard, we value the work of the Vice Chair of the Working Group, Professor Freeland, in preparing the first draft of the Recommended Principles for Space Resources Activity. It is an excellent basis for promoting a common understanding of a possible legal framework. In this same framework, let me recall that Italy is among the first signatories of the Artemis Accord, which provides non-legal binding guidance for space exploration and establishes a set of common principles was granted in outer space— in the Outer Space Treaty. We are committed to sharing our experience in their implementation. Mr. Chair, Italy supports the work of the Legal Subcommittee on Space Traffic. Considering the rapid growth of space activities and related challenges, we welcome the German proposal for a study group on space traffic. And we believe that the compilation and review of national and regional policies, best practice, and legal framework could provide valuable input for managing the increasing volume of space traffic. This effort could also support any future initiative to address the technical aspect of space traffic coordination. To conclude, Mr. Chair, allow me to reiterate that Italy is strongly committed to advancing global governance in the space sector, and in this regard, we are pleased to work with the Moroccan COPUS Chair and UNOSA to facilitate discussion on the organization of the 4th UNISPACE Conference in 2027. We thank all delegations that have supported this endeavor and provided input, and we look forward to continued deliberation in the informal session of this subcommittee starting tomorrow. Thank you.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much. to the distinguished representative of Italy for her statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Spain.

Thank you very much, Chair. Spain aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to make a number of additional comments in its national capacity. First of all, we wish to commend you for your acknowledged professionalism, experience and for the work undertaken allowing our subcommittee to meet its objectives. Equally, we wish to convey our gratitude to the Director of the United Nations Office on Outer Space Affairs, Arti Hollamäini, and to all of the Secretariat staff for their dedication and the efforts in preparation for this meeting. Chair, Spain is party to the 4 United Nations treaties governing the use and exploration of outer space. We believe that these provide the necessary legal basis to tackle the challenges of exploration and exploitation of outer space. Spain recognizes the role played by COPUOS and by its 2 subcommittees as the only multilateral fora under the aegis of the United Nations to address in a detailed and cross-cutting fashion all of the legal, scientific, and technical aspects of the exploration Chair, Spain is committed to the defense of multilateralism, including the principles in the Charter of the United Nations, and we equally defend and uphold the existence of a common interest in safeguarding these principles, as is reflected in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625, containing the Declaration on the Principles of International Law, which are to govern friendly relations of cooperation among states in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations. We must express our concern in view of the grave violations of the Charter of the United Nations, and accordingly, my delegation firmly condemns the unjustified aggression perpetrated by the Russian Federation against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, which has serious consequences for cooperation in the space sphere. We wish to express our solidarity with and support for the people of Ukraine and restate the need for respect for and compliance with international law. We restate our commitment to international law and to international cooperation as a necessary approach to tackle the shared challenges that arise in space, based on our belief that only multilateralism can serve to ensure that the development development of space capacity and the use and exploration of space are carried out in conditions of freedom, safety, and respect for international law for the benefit of all of humankind. As part of our effective commitment to multilateralism, we are honored this year, along the European Space Policy Institute, to promote diplomatic dialogue and to help strengthen ties here in Vienna. This event will be attended by the chair of the Spanish Space Agency. Chair, the creation of the Spanish Space Agency is— it was a pivotal step towards ensuring effective coordination of activities in the space sphere, both in terms of technological development as well as regarding the use of space in areas such as safety, security, Earth observation and geolocation. The agency contributes to establishing a national policy that provides guidance both for the public as well as for the private sector, in addition to promoting an appropriate regulatory framework for this sector. The aim is to amplify the positive impact of space activities for our society and economy, maximizing the return on investment, promoting areas for public and private cooperation and empowering the space industry sector in a clear and consistent manner, in full cooperation with the European Space Agency and the European Union. Furthermore, the Spanish Space Agency is committed to promoting international cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally in order to promote the peaceful and sustainable use of space, in particular Thank you, Mr. President. We welcome the work of the Working Group on Potential Models for Exploration, Exploitation, and Use of Space Resources to ensure that such activities are carried out in a safe, sustainable, and peaceful manner for the benefit of all countries, regardless of their degree of economic or scientific development, and in full respect for international law. Chair, and with these comments made, my delegation restates its readiness to cooperate under your expert guidance for the optimal development of this session. Thank you very much.

I would like to thank the distinguished representative of Spain for her statement. And the following speaker on my list Next is the distinguished representative of China.

Mr. Chairman, China aligns itself with the statement made by the Ambassador for Morocco on behalf of G77 and China. The Chinese delegation appreciates your huge efforts for this session and is confident that under your guidance, the session will be a success. We also extend our gratitude to Ms. Arti Kholamani, Director of UNWUSA, and her team for the preparations made for this conference. On April 24th this year, as we were celebrating the 10th China Space Day and the 55th anniversary of the launch of China's first satellite, Dongfanghong-1, China again sent to space Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft with success. And demonstrated the steady progress of our space endeavors. Today, space technology is reshaping humanity's exploration of the universe at unprecedented pace. From revolutionary satellite communications to precision global navigation, from deep space exploration to commercial spaceflight, these breakthroughs expand human horizons while presenting new governance challenges, such as how can existing legal frameworks adapt to emerging activities like space resource utilization? How can we ensure space activities benefit all nations while technological disparities are growing? What roles should governments and non-governmental entities play? Faced with these challenges, China believes that the international community must uphold true multilateralism, reject all forms of unilateralism and bullying practices, and reinforce the role of the Legal Subcommittee and the Scientific and Technical Committee of COPUSS. We must adhere to the fundamental principles of space law under the Outer Space Treaty, deepen international cooperation, and jointly strengthen global space governance. Mr. Chair, enhancing the rule of law in outer space is essential for improving global space governance. As a responsible major country, China consistently upholds the international space order based on international law, fulfills its obligations under space treaties in good faith, actively promotes rule of law in outer space and the improvement of global space governance. International cooperation is a fundamental principle enshrined in Outer Space Treaty, guided by the vision of human community with a shared future. China actively engages in international space cooperation, sharing its achievements with the world. The first batch of international experiments selected in collaboration with UN-OSA are now underway aboard China Space Station. In April this year, China and Pakistan signed an agreement to train a Pakistani astronaut for future missions to the station, and the first foreign astronaut will soon be welcome aboard. In addition, 17 countries and international organizations, along with 50 research institutions, have joined the International Lunar Research Station in Asia to On China Space Day, China also announced a Mars exploration cooperation project, inviting interested nations, organizations, and partners to participate in the related projects. Mr. Chair, international exchanges on space law are vital for strengthening rule of law in space. China commends USA's efforts in this regard. Including holding annual UN Conference on Space Law and Policy and the Space Law on New Space Actors Program, which greatly contribute to enhancing legal awareness and capacity building, particularly for emerging space nations. China actively participates in these events. China places great importance on fostering international dialogue on space law In April this year, we hosted a series of international seminars on space law and policy, bringing together experts, scholars, and government officials from various countries to discuss pressing legal issues and space-related emerging topics. We thank Ms. Ati Olamani, Permanent Representative of South Africa and Kenya, and Kenya to Vienna, and Ms. Elina Moutitsatou, Chair of the STSC, for attending these events in China and sharing their insights, which greatly contributed to their success. China looks forward to going deeper into discussions on all items during this session. We are committed to making greater contributions to the peaceful use of outer space and global governance, fostering a community with a shared future in outer space, and ensuring that space exploration will benefit all humanity, especially the people of the Global South. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank the distinguished representative of China for his statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of South Africa. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. South Africa congratulates you on chairing the 64th session of the Legal Subcommittee. We also express our appreciation for the work carried out by UNOSA under the excellent leadership of Ms. Arti Holomyani. At the onset, South Africa aligns with the statements delivered by the G7 7 and China, as well as the Africa Group. Chair, South Africa is committed to conducting outer space activities in accordance with international space law. These activities should contribute to the prosperity and sustainable development of all nations and safeguard the continued peaceful use of outer space. In this regard, South Africa welcomes the progress made in the Working Group on Space Resources. The process of reforming our domestic space legislation to incorporate new trends in national space activities is undergoing consideration. The proposed legislation incorporates proactive measures in the application of the Registration and Liability Conventions, as well as the guidelines being developed by this subcommittee. The new draft legislation takes into account technological advances to keep pace with new trends and developments, including but not limited to in-orbit refueling and the transfer of assets in orbit. To support our space program, South Africa is building a comprehensive space value chain, including the development of a rocket engine to establish indigenous launch capabilities. Chair, South Africa remains committed to international cooperation for mutually beneficial and peaceful uses of outer space. We firmly believe that countries should not be discriminated against implementing their respective development strategies. Accordingly, our national space policy focuses on harnessing space technologies and applications to contribute to our country's economic growth and social development. Chair, South Africa is once again honored to organize the 2025 Africa round of the Manfred Luck Space Law Moot Court Competition, which provides a wonderful platform for the space community community across Africa to build capacity in international space law. South Africa is pleased to note the national coordination efforts in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, highlighting the continent's growing enthusiasm for space law education. Chair, our national space agency, SANSA, is currently revitalizing cooperation agreements with key partners on the continent. This renewed collaboration focuses on capacity building, initiatives in satellite technology, space science, and technological policy development, as well as aligning legal frameworks, boosting national and regional capabilities. To conclude, Chair, my delegation expresses concern about the liquidity crisis UNOSA is currently experiencing, impacting the work of the office to deliver on its mandate, as well as render necessary capacity building and training to developing countries and emerging space nations. Similar to other countries, we've taken note and heed of the Director's concerns, and we also echo her call for more funding and support in the 5th Committee in New York. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa for her statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative

Thank you, Chair.

The Canadian delegation is pleased to welcome you back as Chair of the Legal Subcommittee for its 64th session and looks forward to your leadership as we engage in discussions regarding some of the most interesting and important issues facing peaceful exploration use of outer space today. Rest assured that Canada is ready to actively engage on these issues. Canada commends the Secretariat and the Director of UNUSA for all the hard work that went into the preparation for this session. Your efforts are sincerely appreciated. Chair, distinguished delegates, the exploration and use of outer space is the province of all humankind, which means everyone can use and explore outer space regardless of their degree of economic or scientific development. The 4 core UN treaties on outer space—the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue and Return Agreement, Liability Convention, and Registration Convention—establish this right and many others that are crucial to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Adherence to and implementation of these treaties is essential for ensuring that humanity continues to enjoy the benefits that outer space activities can deliver. Canada calls on all members of. to become party to the 4 core United Nations treaties on outer space and to promote universal adherence to these treaties. All states are affected by outer space activities, and therefore all states should be operating under a common legal framework to promote the safety, security, and sustainability of outer space activities now and in the future. The existing legal framework governing outer space activities was developed within COPULIS. This remarkable feat was accomplished by focusing on the elaboration of broad principles of general application. These general principles were first agreed through non-binding UN General Assembly resolutions and then transformed into treaties where appropriate. This approach was tremendously successful, resulting in treaties that enabled fantastic innovation in the exploration and use of outer space over the decades that followed their adoption. Almost 60 years later, the legal framework developed by COPUSS continues to serve as the foundation for humanity's activities in outer space. Today, just as in the early 1960s, novel space activities are being planned and implemented, such as missions to the Moon and Mars and the search for vital space resources to sustain humanity's exploration of the cosmos. There are also challenges to address. The Earth's orbit has become crowded and dangerous, with thousands of satellites operating in all directions and hazardous debris scattered throughout all orbits. To deal with both new opportunities and challenges, COPUSS should follow the approach it pioneered. With such great success. This subcommittee should focus on practical issues rather than theoretical debates. It should focus on general legal principles that create a flexible framework within which actors can develop creative solutions to achieve new milestones and overcome emerging challenges, rather than engage in prolonged discussions over minute details and definitions. This approach is being employed by the Working Group on Space Resource Activities. While we are saddened by the loss of the chair of the working group, Mr. André Michaud, we are pleased with the draft set of recommended principles compiled by the vice chair, Stephen Freeland, whom we commend for his diligence and persistence in the face of adversity. Canada is optimistic that the working group will succeed in elucidating practical legal guidance on an important matter, and in so doing, demonstrate that COPUSS can maintain its reputation as a competent intergovernmental body that delivers real results— results that are needed by the international community to enable the continued exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Finally, in its quest to deliver those results, COPUSS and its subcommittees should be open to input and ideas from all sources. No one committee or organization has a monopoly on good ideas. For example, the COPU Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines were heavily influenced by the work of the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee. Also, several of the current items on the agenda of the Legal Subcommittee were inspired by symposia organized by the European Center for Space Law and the International Institute of Space Law. These examples illustrate that contributions from outside COPUS can inspire and enrich its work. Therefore, COPUS and its subcommittees should remain open to and encourage contributions from academia, civil society, private industry, and relevant international organizations. Chair, distinguished delegates, outer space has been a constant symbol of cooperation and peace where nations set aside their differences for the sake of mutual achievement and the betterment of humanity through the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Canada hopes that this spirit of cooperation and peace will continue to prevail both in outer space and in this subcommittee. It remains extremely concerning that our session once again takes place against the backdrop of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. As we have repeatedly stated, Russia's actions directly undermine global peace and security, as well as international law, and run contrary to our collective efforts to advance the peaceful uses of outer space.

Thank you. Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of Canada for their statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, thank you, Mr. Chair, for guiding this subcommittee. You have my government's full support. I would also like to express our gratitude to the Director, Mrs. Arti Holomaini, and the Secretariat for their excellent work in preparation of this session. My delegation is grateful for the Director's clear account of the effects on the work of UNRWA of the liquidity crisis. I would also like to thank the interpreters who keep our multilingualism alive and without whom our efforts to cooperate would become futile. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and would like to say the following in its national capacity. Mr. Chair, the Kingdom of the Netherlands participates in the work of this subcommittee with a view to confirming, codifying, and developing international space law. We do so with a view to avoiding irresponsible behaviors, both in outer space and in our meeting rooms. A safe and sustainable use of outer space requires our cooperation, our due regard for the corresponding interests of other states. This subcommittee is a unique platform to discuss international space law in all its aspects. It cannot do so without an adequate budget, and for that reason, we regret the budgetary challenges that are being presented to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and would hope that the budget may be preserved. My delegation would take this opportunity to mark the issues that are of particular importance to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. More detailed observations on these topics will be presented under the relevant agenda items. First, under agenda item 5, we would place particular importance on the adherence to and development of international space law as reflected in the 5 United Nations space treaties. Treaties. Ratification of all 5 treaties would allow a more consolidated corpus of law, but this should be complemented by non-binding instruments guiding states in their behavior in outer space. The Artemis Accords are an important example of such instruments, which are conducive to the constructive regulation of the relevant areas addressed in these accords, including space resources activities. Second, in view of the importance of a peaceful, safe, and sustainable use of outer space, my government would promote a comprehensive approach to all relevant issues. This would mean that space traffic, space debris reduction, and small satellite regulation could be considered together. A regulatory framework could be designed to ensure that our present activities in outer space are conducted conducted in such a manner so as to not prevent future generations from benefiting from outer space. This subcommittee should dedicate sufficient resources to the development of the requisite legal frameworks to achieve these goals. Third, the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to attach great importance to the development of a legal framework for the regulation of space activities. In that regard, my government deeply regrets the passing away of André Michthal. He will be truly irreplaceable and dearly missed. There are big shoes to fill for his successor, and our thoughts are with his family and friends. We look forward to our discussions on this topic in the plenary and the working group. With Luxembourg and others, we continue to support the building as developed by the Hague International Space Resources Working Group and have submitted them again to our COPUOS Working Group for our consideration. We also recommend the Artemis Accords as a source of inspiration that might guide our work in this regard. Finally, Mr. Chair, I wish to stress again the value of the Moon Agreement, which provides the strongest imperative for the development of a legal framework regulating space resources. We are grateful to the Vice Chair, Mr. Freeland, for having provided us with the initial draft set of recommended principles for space resources activities. The draft set provides an important start for the discussion. We're confident that together we can complete this work and create a comprehensive framework for the regulation of space resources activities. Thank you, And fourth, if there ever was a time to ensure that our work is meaningful, efficient, and effective, it is now. The liquidity crisis in the United Nations and the ensuing need to be responsible in how we spend our time, the increasing congestion in outer space and the ensuing need to ensure continued safe and sustainable access, all call for careful consideration of our working methods. It requires our full attention. Finally, the Kingdom of the Netherlands stands with Ukraine. The Netherlands condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked and continuing acts of aggression by the Russian Federation. It is a blatant and serious breach of a peremptory norm of international law that all states must abide by. And with that, Mr.

Chair, distinguished delegates, I thank you for your

I would like to thank the distinguished representative of the Netherlands for her statement. The following speaker is the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Mr. Chair, allow me first to express you, on behalf of my delegation, my warm thanks for your able leadership as Chair of the 63rd Session of the Legal Subcommittee. My delegation commends Madam Artiehola for her opening statement and for her remarkable commitment and expresses its gratitude to the dedicated Secretariat staff for their remarkable efforts in ensuring the effective organization of the proceedings of this session. My delegation associates its itself to the statement of G77 and China, as well as the African group, and would like to make the following comments on its national capacities. Morocco remains committed to the principle of 1967 treaty ensuring fair and rational use of outer space, non-appropriation including the Moon and celestial bodies, and believes that the peaceful use of outer space is crucial for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. In this respect, Morocco commends the dedicated work undertaken by COPPIOS and its 2 subcommittees, particularly the Legal Subcommittee, to maintain the sustainability of outer space activity through establishment of long-term sustainable guidelines for space activities. Morocco believes that the international cooperation is the most effective path forward to fully harness space potential, particularly in resources monitoring, disaster management, and ensuring equitable access to space technology. In this connection, Morocco, in its capacity of the chair of the upcoming COPUS, would like to thank, along with Italy, all the delegations for the support of the conference room paper, UNISPACE 4, and the adoption by consensus the recommendation of UNISPACE reflected in the report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on its 62nd session last February. We look forward for a constructive and fruitful consultation during the 64th session of Legal Subcommittee in order to adopt a recommendation to be submitted to COPROSE at its 68th session during June. Chair, as part of its committee commitment for the global space governance. Morocco has registered several space objects, notably Mohammed VI and the Mohammed VI-B satellite launched in 2017 and 2018, as well as the University Mohammed V and University Mohammed V-Ribat nanosatellite launched in 2024 as part of its space research program. In the In this context, and in accordance with the international commitment, Morocco has designated the Royal Center for Remote Sensing as the focal point for the registration of Morocco's space objects according to the rules and procedures of the United Nations Office of Outer Space, asserting that this function holds critical importance in guaranteeing the traceability of space objects and ensuring their conformity with the international law for contributing view change for— or to the secure and responsible governance of space. Chair, Morocco considers that strengthening the legal aspect of exploitation, exploration, and use of space through enhanced international cooperation and collaboration is crucial for fostering the sustainable development of space-related activities. In this regard, Morocco has contributed to the various working groups of this subcommittee, particularly those concerning the exploitation and utilization of the space resources, the legal aspects of traffic management, and the application of international law to small satellite activities. At the regional level, it is worth mentioning that cooperation with Africa— with the African countries is a fundamental pillar in the Moroccan strategies for the development of space activities. Regarding its dedication to this objective, Morocco was elected member of the African Space Council of the African Space Agency during the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in February 2024. With this regional approach, Morocco remains committed to fostering knowledge and understanding of space law and space policy at the African Centre for Space Science and Technology. As part As part of Morocco's involvement in all activity initiated in the African level, CRAST LF has been instrumental, instrumental in capacity building through the Master Program in Space Science and Technology since 2000. Indeed, in 2024, the Master Program welcomed 89 students from 10 French-speaking nations, and this ongoing commitment highlights the CRAST LF dedication. Thank you. To advancing space capacity building in Africa. Chair, Morocco remains convinced that the multiplication and organization of events focused on jurisdiction and space policy for the benefit of all countries, especially African states, is crucial for promoting states' adherence to the 5 treaties governing outer space and for the establishment of a comprehensive national space law. In its capacity and as in the incoming chair of the COPUS, Morocco wishes to convey its firm dedication to support the successful conduct of the session guided by Vienna consensus spirit that has consistently prevailed during our proceeding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of Morocco for their statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you very much, Chair. Distinguished delegates, Australia commends the Chair, the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, and the Secretariat for their continued support of the subcommittee. We welcome Djibouti and Latvia as new members of the committee, and we express our condolences on the passing of Ambassador Andrzej Misztal of Poland, Chair of the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities. Ambassador Misztal's contributions have been extensive, and he will be missed. Chair, Australia's enduring commitment to and respect for international law compels us to again draw attention to Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. Australia continues to condemn Russia's aggression, which is a gross violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Australia reaffirms its support for the work of the subcommittee. We are proud to be a founding member of the committee and a state party to the 5 United Nations space treaties. We reiterate that the Outer Space Treaty is the cornerstone of the international framework governing the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Australia also supports promotion of and mutual learning in space legislation and policy in our region. Australia is pleased to participate in the National Space Legislation Initiative, NSLI, of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, now in its 3rd phase. We thank the Philippines and Japan as the NSLI co-chairs and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency as the NSLI Secretariat for their efforts. Chair, Australia supports the UNGA-mandated open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects that commenced its work in Geneva last month. We need to see the next session in July move towards substantive discussions. These discussions should focus on how international law can be applied to space threat scenarios, and where legal gaps are identified, should consider the full spectrum of solutions. We urge states to engage with this group in good faith. Chair, Australia is committed to its international obligations, including under Article 11 of the Outer Space Treaty. Australia supports the sharing of information to enhance transparency and mitigate or avoid the potential for interference in outer space activities, including lunar operations. Australia welcomes further discussion on development of a voluntary practical tool to enhance the timely and streamlined sharing of information about space activities. Australia looks forward to continuing discussions on these matters within the Working Group on the Status and Application of the 5 United Nations Treaties on Outer Space. Chair, Australia is committed to working with member states of the committee to address emerging issues. Including with regard to activities in the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources. Australia welcomes the initial draft set of recommended principles for space resource activities, which provide a good basis for consideration and discussion. Australia looks forward to further contributing to discussions in the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities. We extend our full support to Professor Stephen Freeland in his leadership of the working group and support him becoming chair. Chair, Australia's Space Launches and Returns Act 2018 establishes a regulatory framework for the licensing of and provides safety requirements for space activities in Australia or involving Australian interests. The Act also implements certain obligations under United Nations space treaties. In 2024, a number of first-of-a-kind authorisations were issued under the Act. This included the first licence for an orbital launch facility in Australia, the first permit for a commercial orbital launch from Australia, and authorisation for the first commercial return of a space object to a commercial spaceport anywhere in the world. Australia is committed to the continuous improvement of our regulatory framework in consultation with our space sector and consistent with our international obligations. Chair, from 29 September to 3 October 2025, Australia will host the 76th International Astronautical Congress, IAC, on the theme of Sustainable Space, Resilient Earth. The 76th IAC aims to provide a platform to promote global cooperation in shaping the future of space exploration. It will be an unparalleled opportunity to engage with regional space partners and support meaningful networking and collaborations with space experts and decision-makers. We welcome you to join us in Sydney later this year. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of Australia for her statement. Following speaker is the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, distinguished Chairperson. At this time, we are preparing to celebrate the Victory Day. The Great Patriotic War ended 80 years ago. It changed the course of world history, the fates of peoples, and the cartography of the globe. The war was a tribulation that united the multinational Soviet people. Through joint efforts, great victories were achieved. Millions of lives were saved. Saved and peace was restored. We take this opportunity to congratulate all in connection with the forthcoming celebration. Distinguished Chairperson, the Russian Federation continues to actively develop its national space program. In 2024, we carried out 17 successful rocket launches. These placed in orbit telecommunications, scientific research, and remote Earth sensing satellites. We continue developing the Russian Space Station. It will become a new platform for conducting scientific research and testing space technology.

To monitor Arctic ice retreat, and to research ways of mitigating forest fire risks. These initiatives testify to the Russian Federation's attachment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. There was significant progress in 2024 with the enhancement of remote Earth sensing data processing national infrastructure. New analysis centers and cloud platforms have significantly shortened the data processing lead time and enhanced data availability for government and private users. Work is ongoing on enhancing the Russian Federation's legislation on space activities. Introduced amendments seek interregional to to provide for appropriate levels of coordination of actions with the international community in the field of space traffic management and risk prevention. Developing international cooperation is a priority of our space policy. We firmly believe that consolidating international efforts will help overcome rising threats and challenges in the space sector. It's our firm conviction that the Legal Subcommittee must retain its lead role in crafting international space law. To meet its full potential, the Legal Subcommittee must step up its consideration of current space activity governance challenges such as space debris, space traffic management, and the definition and delimitation of outer space. We consistently advocate for substantive, comprehensive, and open deliberations on the exploration, acquisition, and utilization of space resources, given its scientific and policy relevance. We underscore the crucial importance of comprehensive international cooperation on these matters while maintaining the central coordinating role of the United Nations. Against that backdrop, we see unilateral approaches and initiatives that bring together only a limited circle of partners as counterproductive. The Artemis Accords are, in our view, an attempt to create rules on space resource exploration and utilization in circumvention of established UN mechanisms. And those of its Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. This creates the risk of destabilization of space activities and the transformation of outer space into a sphere of international confrontation and the fragmentation of international space law. We are deeply concerned at attempts to politicize the work of COPROS. These impact its effectiveness and its international authority. We reject politically motivated attacks on states, especially by permanent observers, sowing discord within the committee. We note the increasing involvement of non-governmental organizations in the work of COPROS. This is a general trend across UN bodies. We believe forever that it should not be allowed to alter or dilute the intergovernmental character of the committee. The Russian Federation consistently upholds the principle whereby any space activity, regardless of whether it's conducted by a public or private actor, must be in strict compliance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. States are internationally accountable for for all space activities of physical and legal entities under their jurisdiction. It's important to remain mindful of this given the broad involvement in space activities of different kinds of actors, especially private sector entrepreneurs. Distinguished Chairperson, by way of conclusion, we reiterate our commitment to the principles of international space law. And we call for the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes and equal access to its resources for all states, regardless of their degree of economic and technological development. Thank you. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for their statement. Following speaker on my list. Next is the distinguished representative of New Zealand.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair. We'd like to thank you for your continued efforts in leading these important discussions. We also want to recognize the work of the Secretariat, who do so much to enable our work. I will keep these remarks short in the spirit of efficiency, heeding the Director's pertinent and sober remarks earlier. A longer version of the statement is available online. At the outset, we would like to recognize the clearly building momentum towards a possible Unispace 4 conference, and in particular the Secretariat's non-paper, which will help facilitate discussions among member states over the coming weeks. Our delegation looks forward to working constructively with other delegations on this important issue. Chair, ensuring the peaceful use of space is a fundamental element of maintaining international peace and security and requires all countries to abide by their international legal obligations. We highlight the valuable role of this subcommittee in supporting an effective international legal framework which enables the growth of the global space sector and facilitates effective cooperation among states and with other space stakeholders. This includes our work to overcome shared challenges with connectivity and resilience, to foster economic development, to conduct research including climate science, and to help states respond quickly and effectively to natural disasters. This subcommittee's important work includes assisting states to better understand and apply the existing international legal framework and ensuring that this framework remains fit for purpose as the space environment continues to evolve. Chair, it's also important that our collective domestic regulatory frameworks continue to function well to support the peaceful, safe, and sustainable use of space. New Zealand is committed to developing space policy and regulation that promotes the peaceful, safe, and sustainable use of space. Our flexible and enabling regulatory regime supports the growth of a safe, responsible, and secure space industry that meets our international obligations. We continue to ensure this regime is fit for purpose, fit for purpose, and have recently announced amendments to our domestic legislation. Our policies on active debris removal and in-service orbiting are examples of innovative regulation that have created a pathway for novel space activity to take place from New Zealand. We look forward to welcoming all member states to a UK, Japan, and New Zealand-hosted side event on this topic on 7 May. Chair, finally, we confirm our commitment to working constructively and efficiently to ensure that COPUAS continues to have a central role in supporting and developing the rules and norms that keep space accessible to all. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of New Zealand for their statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Costa Rica.

Thank you very much, Chair. Costa Rica would like to begin by reiterating its support for your designation as the chair of the Legal Subcommittee of COP/EOS and to extend our commitment to ensuring a successful outcome to the work of this session. We would like to use this opportunity equally to thank Director Arti Holomaini and her team for the preparations, the planning, and the development of this meeting. Costa Rica aligns itself with the statement delivered by Morocco on behalf of the G77 and China and wishes to make the following comments in its national capacity. My delegation wishes to reaffirm Costa Rica's commitment to updating its legislative framework on space matters, as well as the further strengthening of our institutions and infrastructure. Accordingly, we are proud to be engaged in the preparatory work for the second part of the Space Law Technical Advisory Mission provided by UNOSA. The first stage of this mission took place in late 2023 and was the first of its kind to take place in Central America. Space diplomacy is a key component of our foreign policy in Costa Rica. Progress made in the signature and ratification of various space instruments is directly related to these missions and expert visits. In the same vein, the technical and legal support The technical support and advice provided by UNOSA is of the utmost relevance and has a significant impact on the universalization of space treaties. Chair, Costa Rica thanks the Secretariat for its efforts made for the preparations to organize the 4th United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, UNISPACE IV. We see this conference as providing an ideal forum in order to conclude those processes that are geared towards the consolidation of a comprehensive and effective normative framework. Unispace 4 equally provides all member states with an opportunity to express their political support for UNOOSA, expressing a significant vote of confidence to further strengthen this office, which is seeking to add greater visibility to its position and in general at the heart of the United Nations when it comes to space matters, placing it at the same level as other offices within the system. Accordingly, we appeal vigorously to all member states sharing these concerns to raise these concerns directly with the Office of the Secretary-General in New York, as well as with the corresponding committee in order to address possible solutions. These possible solutions will necessarily imply a budgetary review, as Director Holomaini noted, in order to tackle the growing demands, in particular those that are related to capacity building in developing countries. It is equally necessary for the Committee to address those means and measures that that will enable UNOOSA to receive contributions from the private sector. Chair, my delegation welcomes the presentation of an initial proposal to analyze the set of principles to govern activities related to space resources. We believe that references to the strict use for peaceful purposes of such resources as well as compliance with international law, technical cooperation, and the principle of non-appropriation are steps in the right direction. And therefore, we would like to thank the working group for this, and we are closely— we will closely follow the conversations under this agenda item. Sustainability of space activities is equally a priority matter for Costa Rica, one which is directly related to to the principle of universal access on an equal footing to outer space for all countries without discrimination, regardless of their level of scientific, technical, and economic development, as well as ensuring the equitable and rational use of outer space for the benefit and in the interest of all of humankind. Chair, it is more important than ever before that we do our utmost to prevent an arms race in outer space. Costa Rica notes with concern the escalation in military budgets, as well as the increase in arsenals, as well as the further development and sophistication of weapons in general, including the use of military artificial intelligence comprising expensive weapons of mass destruction which are capable of being transited through outer space, an area which is set aside for peaceful purposes, while at the same time initiatives for financing development are being undermined, overlooking the fact that development is a key component of global peace and stability. My country calls on those countries with greater space capacity to make an active contribution accordingly and to commit to preserving outer space as a peaceful environment. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative Of Costa Rica for her statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Belgium,

Monsieur le Président.

Chairperson, my delegation is delighted to see you chairing this session of the subcommittee. We would also like to congratulate and thank the Office of Outer Space Affairs for having prepared. And organized this session. Belgium aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of the European Union. We take this opportunity to reiterate our sincerest condolences following the passing of Ambassador Andrzej Misztal to the Polish delegation, chairperson of the Working Group on Space Resources and former chairperson of the subcommittee. We pay tribute tribute to the valuable and lasting contribution Ambassador Misztal made to our work through his manifold professional and personal qualities. Chairperson, this 64th session of the subcommittee is particularly important in our view, and there are a number of reasons for that. Firstly, this year is the 50th anniversary of the Convention on Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. This milestone offers us the opportunity to note the importance of the convention in the everyday governance of outer space activities and its decisive impact on the safe use of outer space, particularly Earth orbits. Belgium is particularly interested in continued pursuit of discussions within COPROs on practice Regarding implementation of the 1975 convention, this session also offers the opportunity we hope to move forward with several areas of work in progress. For example, the hosting of a fourth Unispace Global Conference in 2027, the creation of an action team on lunar activities consultation at LAC, and the creation of a study group on law and policy aspects of space travel. Proposed by Germany and supported by other delegations including Belgium. And also the first draft of principles applicable to space resources presented by the vice chair of the relevant working group, Professor Stephen Freeland. As regards the working group, we insist that the— as regards the working group, that I just mentioned, we insist that the consultations and discussions on forming the Bureau of the Working Group should not impinge on the substantive work of the Group in accordance with its established schedule. Chairperson, we note heightening interest among the scientific and research communities and also within the general public in the legal frameworks governing the exploration and use of outer space. Beyond the intellectual curiosity this matter raises, our citizenry is increasingly aware of how our security and our environment are linked with outer space in a way that is perceived increasingly in concrete terms. During the conference organized by UN-USSA in November 2024, our delegation had the opportunity to brief delegations on the introduction into our criminal code of the crime of ecocide as applicable to activities conducted in outer space. This marks our acknowledgment of the inclusion of outer space in our natural, economic, and cultural environment. This inclusion gives rise to equitably shared rights as well as responsibilities to present and future generations. It marks our commitment to respecting space as the common heritage of all humankind in all of its dimensions. Mr. Chairperson, we listened attentively to the statement and presentation of Director Arti Holomaini this morning. Unfortunately, it bore out our fears of a rupture occurring between the challenges UNHCR must address and the resources that it is allocated. This situation is a matter of great concern to us, and our intention is to relay that sentiment to our competent authorities. We will also give consideration to all other possible options to remedy the situation. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium for his statement. The following speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Chair, distinguished delegates, as this is the first time that the Thai delegation is taking the floor, please allow me to extend our sincere support to the chair of the Legal Subcommittee and UN-OSCE to lead and facilitate the meeting. We believe that consensus should be at heart of the purpose, which will be the constructive way in fostering space multilateral partnership. On the 28th of March, 2025, an earthquake with magnitude 7.7 hit Myanmar, and severely affected Thailand, resulting in the loss of lives and damages in our hometowns. During the chaos and unclear circumstances, space technology and application stepped up to promptly provide valuable imagery from space and devastation in accessible areas, helping us to operate timely rescue and effective recovery. These efforts stand as a clear demonstration of the necessity of space technology. Disaster monitoring system, in particularly multilateral mechanisms such as COPUS, which has laid strong foundation, enabled us to cope with the unexpected earthquake. Thailand, highly indigenous countries and United Nations bodies, for example, United Nations Satellite Center, or UNOSAT, Sentinel Asia, International Charter Space and Major Disasters, for your assistance and generous support during this difficult time. Mr. Chair, over the past year, Thailand has made significant progress in space law and policy. One of the key events of the year is the Space Law Technical Advisory Mission successfully arranged in Thailand during 15 to 17 January 2025, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, UNOOSA, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The 10 workshops provided invaluable insights into space law and regulations, receiving highly positive feedback from Thai and international stakeholders. The mission significantly contributed to the awareness and understanding to Thailand's forthcoming space legal framework and reinforced our commitment to international cooperation in space law. Furthermore, Thailand's National Space Act is in the final stages of review by the Office of the Counselor of State. The act which establishes a legal foundation for space activities in Thailand, is expected to be submitted to our parliament soon for the final approval. This legislation will guide our national space activities while ensuring compliance with international treaties and obligations. Another milestone achieved this year— this past year is the completion of the technical assessment of the spaceport facility in Thailand. Building on this foundation, we are now planning to conduct an economic assessment for further evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of developing a spaceport in the country. The findings will help inform the development of national spaceport law, which aims to establish a robust regulatory framework for space launch activities while promoting investment and innovation in Thailand's space industry. In the spirit of international collaboration, in 2024, Thailand becomes a signatory of the Artemis Accords, reaffirming our commitment to the peaceful, responsible, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space. Additionally, Thailand has joined the International Lunar Research Station Program, aiming to place scientific instruments developed by Thai for lunar exploration. Thailand seeks to actively contribute to the benefit from collaborative efforts in scientific discovery, technological advancement, and capacity building in space activities. This milestone reflects our dedication in global cooperation to uphold. These shared values and ensure that outer space remains a peaceful and accessible domain for the collective benefit of humankind. Thailand, through JISTA, has been served as a board member of the Space Law Alliance, SLA, of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, or APSCO. Thailand is actively contributing to the development of legal and regulatory mechanisms that strengthen cooperation between Thailand, and other EBSCO member states. In the space economy sector, our key areas of focus include enhancing space infrastructure, promoting legal harmonization, and establishing regulatory frameworks that drive sustainable economic growth, and fostering a more cohesive and inclusive space governance system. In the framework of APRSAF, the National Space Legislation Initiative has completed the report on states of national space legislation in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, 3rd phase, which also contains updates on national space law policy of Thailand. We support the report to be submitted to the coming COPUS. Thailand remains committed to engaging in meaningful global partnerships that advance development of space law and policy, ensuring that space activities continue to serve the interests of all nations in a fair and sustainable manner. Mr. Chair, on behalf of the Thai delegation, we reaffirm our steadfast support for UN-USA and this subcommittee. We eagerly anticipate continued collaboration with all member states through COPUS to advance the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of Thailand for their statement. There are no further speakers planned at this moment, and so accordingly, distinguished delegates, We will continue our consideration of agenda item 3, general exchange of views, tomorrow morning. Distinguished delegates, I will now adjourn this meeting of the subcommittee. Before doing so, I would like to inform delegates of our schedule of work for this afternoon. We will meet promptly At 3 PM. At that time, we will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views. So once again, we will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 3 this afternoon. We will also have one technical presentation this afternoon. As delegations are aware, The full schedule of technical presentations is available on the session's webpage. Distinguished delegates, as you may recall, at its 66th session, the committee agreed that with the exception of the item on the general exchange of views, all agenda items of the committee and its subcommittees are to be considered in sequential order. While the holding of working group meetings should not be precluded, in view of this agreement, the subcommittee will proceed and consider agenda items in sequential order with the exception of agenda item 3. We do not have many speakers scheduled for item 3 this afternoon. Thus, time permitting, We will begin our consideration of agenda item 4 this afternoon, and that is information on the activities of international, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations related to space law. And if time is still permitting, We will begin our consideration of agenda item 5, which is the status and application of the 5 United Nations treaties on outer space. And I'll give the floor to the Secretariat to provide information on side events.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Distinguished delegates, well, today at lunchtime There will be a side event entitled Commercial Perspectives on Space Situational Awareness, co-organized by Luxembourg and Office for Outer Space Affairs.

And this side event will be held from 1:30 PM in Room M3. So, this event takes place from 1:30 PM in Room M3 and also via virtual connection.

The schedule of the side event The event is also available on the webpage of this session. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Secretariat for this information. Are there any questions or any comments on the proposed schedule? I see none. Distinguished delegates, this meeting is adjourned until 3 PM. Until 3 PM. Thank you very much. Thank you.