Paris – "The Fucino Space Centre is one of Europe's strategic assets in satellite telecommunications and space services, and today's institutional visit confirms its importance. It brings together research, innovation and industrial and technological expertise, making our region a European point of reference for the space sector”. This was the message from Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region, following an institutional visit to the Fucino Space Centre alongside Italy's Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, who is also responsible for space and aerospace policy, and France's Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, Philippe Baptiste. The delegation also included Undersecretary Fausta Bergamotto, Head of the Regional Cabinet Stefano Cianciotta, Massimo Claudio Comparini, Head of Leonardo's Space Division, Gabriele Pieralli, CEO of Telespazio, Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, and Giampiero Di Paolo, CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss closer cooperation between Italy and France in the strategic space sector while showcasing the activities carried out at the Fucino hub. "Abruzzo is at the heart of a supply chain that generates innovation, highly skilled employment and international competitiveness," Marsilio said. "The presence of Ministers Urso and Baptiste demonstrates the recognition our region has earned in shaping European space policy. We will continue to support initiatives that strengthen investment, enhance industrial excellence and foster growth in a sector that represents one of the major challenges of the future". Marsilio also thanked Minister Urso for his continued commitment to the Fucino Space Centre and to the development of Italy's space policy. "The Abruzzo hub already plays a central role in the European Galileo programme and has been selected as the control centre for IRIS², the European Union's new secure satellite connectivity system", he added. During the visit, the delegation met senior executives from the companies operating at the site and toured the Centre's facilities, examining future prospects for the aerospace sector and the contribution the Fucino hub makes to both Italian and European space programmes. Ministers Urso and Baptiste also held a bilateral meeting to review the main areas of cooperation in the space sector. It was their sixth meeting of 2026, underlining the close dialogue between the two ministries ahead of the Paris Space Summit on 9–10 September, where they will jointly chair the ministerial session dedicated to space. (9colonne)