WASHINGTON — Slovenia has signed the Artemis Accords, which set out the best ways for sustainable space exploration. This happened on April 19, making it the third European country to do so in five days.
Matevž Frangež, who is the state secretary of the ministry of the economy, tourism and sport in the Slovenian government, signed the Accords in a ceremony in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This event was part of the broader U.S. – Slovenia Strategic Dialogue held there that day.
Frangež stated, “Slovenia joins the principles, values and rules on the peaceful use of space as a common good of humanity,” in a statement.
The Artemis Accords, introduced in 2020, explain the practices that nations who have signed it should follow in space exploration. It builds on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and other related international agreements. This includes provisions on transparency and interoperability, as well as the preservation of space heritage, the use of space resources, and the deconfliction of space activities.
Slovenia is the 39th th nation to sign the accords. The country, a member of the European Union, has been an associate member of the European Space Agency since 2016. In November 2023, the Slovenian government formally petitioned to become a full member of ESA, having adopted a national space strategy that was the final formal milestone before seeking full membership. The ESA Council is expected to decide on Slovenia’s membership later this year.
“It opens up opportunities for Slovenia to accelerate the development of our space sector,” Frangež said when Slovenia submitted its request for full ESA membership during a European Space Summit in Seville, Spain. “This is not only an opportunity to strengthen space research but also to develop breakthrough innovations that can revitalize the Slovenian economy.”
Through the Artemis Accords, Slovenia is seeking greater cooperation with the United States in space as well. “We recognize Slovenia as a rising leader in space,” said Jamie Harpootlian, the U.S. ambassador to Slovenia, in a statement about the Artemis Accords signing. “We look forward to taking our collaborations with Slovenia on science, technology and innovation to new frontiers.”
Slovenia is the third European country to sign the accords in less than a week. Switzerland signed the Artemis Accords in a ceremony at NASA Headquarters on April 15. A day later, Sweden signed the accords at an event in Stockholm. Three other countries have also signed the accords so far this year: Belgium, Greece and Uruguay.
