France to Host First-Ever Parliamentary Symposium on UAPs

Summary

France is set to host its first-ever parliamentary symposium on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Assembly on June 29, 2026. This event, organized by Member of Parliament Arnaud Saint-Martin in collaboration with the Groupe d’Études et d’Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés (GEIPAN) and the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), marks a significant milestone in France’s longstanding, science-driven approach to UAPs. The symposium will bring together lawmakers, scientists, military officials, and international observers to discuss the current state of UAP research, aviation safety, and policy recommendations. France’s GEIPAN remains the world’s most transparent and methodologically rigorous government UAP investigation body, with over 3,300 classified cases and more than 10,000 testimonies analyzed as of 2026. The upcoming symposium is expected to further institutionalize France’s leadership in UAP research and public engagement.

Detailed Report 

1. GEIPAN: France’s Science-Driven Approach to UAP Investigations

As of April 2026, the Groupe d’Études et d’Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés (GEIPAN), operating under the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES, French Space Agency), has classified 3,351 cases and analyzed over 10,100 testimonies. GEIPAN’s mandate includes collecting, analyzing, and publishing reports of unexplained aerial phenomena, with a classification system dividing cases into four categories: A (perfectly identified), B (probably identified), C (not identified due to lack of data), and D (not identified after investigation despite sufficient data). The proportion of unexplained cases (Class D) stands at 3.4%, with the rate dropping to approximately 2% for the most recent cases, reflecting ongoing improvements in investigative methodology. GEIPAN processes around 1,000 requests annually, with about 200 cases per year leading to full investigations and publication on its public database. The agency’s steering committee, COPEIPAN, includes representatives from CNES, the Ministry of Defense, the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), the National Gendarmerie, the National Police, Météo-France, and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).

2. Expanding Collaborations: GEIPAN’s Recent International Activities 

In October 2022, GEIPAN hosted the CAIPAN II international conference, drawing over 100 experts from 13 countries, and in 2022, presented its methods to NASA’s UAP study team. Since the conference, GEIPAN has expanded its international collaborations:

·      In 2023, GEIPAN contributed to NASA’s UAP study panel, sharing investigative protocols and case management systems.

·      In March 2024, GEIPAN’s new director, Frédéric Courtade, participated virtually in the European Parliament’s first dedicated UAP conference in over three decades, supporting the initiative for a centralized European UAP observation center.

·      In 2024, a joint CNRS-CNES doctoral thesis on memory reliability in UAP cases was completed, strengthening the scientific basis of GEIPAN’s witness interview techniques.

·      In 2025, GEIPAN collaborated with the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (3AF) SIGMA2 technical commission on a material analysis project, with results made available for scientific review.

·      In December 2025, GEIPAN contributed to the launch of the Euro Ufo Index, a pan-European data-sharing initiative involving 23 national organizations and indexing over 4,000 UAP reports from 43 countries for 2024.

·      GEIPAN’s ongoing exchanges with the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have focused on harmonizing reporting standards and fostering scientific openness.

3. France’s Parliamentary Symposium

The June 29, 2026, National Assembly symposium, titled “Research into Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Beyond Fantasy,” is organized by MP Arnaud Saint-Martin, with support from MP Pierre Henriet and the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST). Saint-Martin has emerged as the principal parliamentary advocate for a transparent, science-based approach to UAPs, emphasizing the need for France to maintain its leadership in UAP research and to ensure policy discussions are grounded in empirical evidence. In public statements, he has highlighted the importance of aviation safety, robust pilot reporting protocols, and international data sharing. Saint-Martin’s stated goal for the symposium is to produce concrete policy recommendations, strengthen scientific partnerships, and reassure the public that UAP issues are being addressed seriously at the highest levels. He has not filed formal parliamentary questions on UAPs prior to the symposium but has played a central role in organizing the event and shaping its agenda. The symposium will reportedly feature lawmakers from multiple parties, representatives from CNES and GEIPAN, scientists from CNRS and the SIGMA2 technical commission of the 3AF, military and civil aviation officials, and international observers from Europe, the US, and Japan.

6. Recent GEIPAN Cases and Aviation Encounters

GEIPAN’s case files from 2023 to 2026 include several notable incidents:

·      Aunay-les-Bois, Orne (June 3, 2020; published 2023): Three witnesses observed two silent blue-white lights moving in parallel at low altitude. No conventional explanation was found; classified as “D” (unexplained).

·      Douai, Nord (March 27, 2022; published 2023): A silent triangular object with coloured lights was observed at close range. Classified as “D1” (unexplained, medium consistency).

·      Montluel, Ain (May 14, 2022; published 2024): A silent, dark rectangular object was observed at 03:10. The case remains unexplained.

·      Villers-les-Luxeuil (November 26, 2019; reported January 2025): Two motorists observed a silent, dark triangular object. No explanation was found.

Aviation encounters remain a particular focus for GEIPAN. Dominique Weinstein’s pilot study, cited by both GEIPAN and international researchers, documents 81 cases of pilots reporting electromagnetic effects, four cases of temporary weapons system failures, and 31 incidents requiring evasive action. These figures remain current as of 2026. In December 2025, French media reported suspected drone incursions over the Creil military intelligence base, with the French Armed Forces confirming ongoing investigations and GEIPAN providing technical support.

Conclusion

France’s institutional response to UAPs, anchored by GEIPAN’s scientific methodology and now elevated by the upcoming National Assembly symposium, remains a global benchmark for transparency, rigor, and public accountability. The June 29, 2026, event is expected to shape future policy, enhance scientific partnerships, and reinforce France’s commitment to evidence-based investigation and international collaboration.