Macron: Success of 'Ariane 6' launch is a key pillar for Europe to regain its independence and freedom of access to space

French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed on Sunday the importance of the efforts by European scientific teams in developing new generations of rockets to enhance the technological sovereignty of the European continent. Macron’s stance came in a statement posted on his X social media platform, congratulating Germany on the success of its mission to launch the Ariane 6 space rocket. Macron stated that the successful launch of the Ariane 6 rocket is a cornerstone in the European continent’s quest to regain its independence and freedom of access to space, and to compete with the “global dominance in the space industry sector,” emphasizing that “Europe is taking hold of its destiny and future, particularly in the space domain.” He added, “Arianespace is making history now. For the first time, a private European company has successfully placed its rocket into orbit after launching it from deep within Europe.” He regarded this as “a notable achievement for Germany and a victory for all of Europe,” which comes just days before the International Space Summit in Paris. He believed that “these successes demonstrate what our continent can achieve when it embraces innovation and investment, and builds its ambitions on the foundation of a strong and independent Europe, even in the space sector.” The German startup Arianespace launched its first rocket to space from a site in Norway, within the Arctic region, on Saturday, a step the company described as “making European history” toward achieving space independence.