The Government approved, at its Tuesday evening meeting, the payment of RON 160.6 million, representing Romania's outstanding financial contribution for 2024 to the optional programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA).
According to a press release from the Executive, Romania joined ESA in December 2011, becoming its 19th member state.
As an ESA member, Romania pays a financial contribution and, in return, can participate in space programmes, while Romanian industry and research can benefit from contracts and access to advanced technologies, through the application of the "geo-return" principle, the cited source noted.
"Due to delayed payments, Romania twice lost its voting rights within ESA structures (during 2018-2022 and again from July 2025), which affected its capacity to influence decisions and secure contracts. By approving this outstanding payment, Romania can recover its voting rights and avoid sanctions, returning to full active member status within ESA," the Executive specified in the release, Agerpres informs.
Additionally, by paying its contribution to ESA optional programmes, Romania supports the maintenance and creation of new high-skilled jobs within the 294 Romanian entities eligible to conclude contracts with ESA, while also ensuring a guaranteed return and a significant multiplier effect, the source underlined.
The amounts will be paid from the budget of the National Authority for Research for 2025, within the approved budgetary limits.
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