The observational evidence for the acceleration of the universe shows that
our canonical theories of gravitation and particle physics are incomplete,
if not incorrect. Forthcoming astronomical facilities will shortly be able
to carry out a new generation of precision consistency tests of the standard
cosmological model and search for evidence of new physics beyond it. I
describe some of these new tests, focusing on the universality of nature's
fundamental couplings and the characterization of the properties of dark
energy. I will also comment on prospects for specific ESA and ESO facilities
in which the CAUP Dark Side team is involved.