The European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada have signed a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA) to establish a legally binding framework for exchanging classified information.
The agreement was signed on 14 April at the 41st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, United States, by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell, on behalf of the Government of Canada.
ESA said the GSOIA is intended to set security standards for handling sensitive information shared with authorised institutions and industrial partners, supporting cooperation in areas where protection of classified information is required.
According to ESA, the agreement is expected to enable closer collaboration in areas including space-based surveillance, disaster response and security-related technologies, as well as development of dual-use capabilities such as advanced sensing systems, secure communications and emerging space technologies.
“This agreement marks an important step in the evolution of our long-standing partnership with Canada. In today’s geopolitical context, secure and trusted cooperation is not only essential – it is strategic,” Aschbacher said.
Campbell said the agreement would deepen Canada’s ability to work with ESA on exchanging classified information and create opportunities for innovation and industry.
ESA noted that Canada is its only non-European cooperating state, a status it has held since 1979.
