European Space Agency boss warns EU of rival agency risks

ESA director general argues for more collaboration as EU ramps up investment in own space agency

The EU has clashed with the head of the independent European Space Agency (ESA) over the bloc's plans to take greater control over the continent's space programmes, in a move that could cut the UK out of key decisions.

EU officials have rubbished as "unfounded" claims made by Jan Wirner, the ESA's director general, that a restructuring of arrangements would "take decades and cost billions".