The following submission statement was provided by /u/nastratin:

European research ministers are meeting in Paris to try to agree contributions to the €18.5bn (£16.1bn) of funding needed for future space activity

On their agenda are missions to the Moon and Mars, and, closer to home, satellites to monitor the weather and encrypt global communications.

The proposed budget for the European Space Agency is a near-25% increase.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z1zybo/europe_to_commit_billions_to_space_race/ixdpm9k/