12 Global navigation satellite system
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8014/06
COM(06)141
| Draft Decision on the signing of the cooperation agreement on a civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and the Republic of Korea
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| Legal base | Articles 133, 170 300(2); —; QMV
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| Document originated | 28 March 2006
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| Deposited in Parliament | 5 April 2006
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| Department | Transport |
| Basis of consideration | EM of 27 April 2006
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | Not known
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
12.1 The Community has a two-phase policy for developing a global
navigation satellite system (GNSS). The first phase, GNSS 1, is
the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) programme.
The second phase, GNSS 2, is the programme, named Galileo, to
establish a new satellite navigation constellation with appropriate
ground infrastructure. It is based on the presumption that Europe
ought not to rely indefinitely on the GPS (the US Global Positioning
System) and GLONASS (the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System)
systems, augmented by EGNOS. Galileo is being carried out in conjunction
with the European Space Agency (ESA).
12.2 It is intended that Galileo will allow provision of five
services. These are known as the:
- Open Service (OS), free of charge at the point of use;
- Commercial Service (CS), offering added value
for more demanding uses;
- Safety of Life Service (SoL), for safety-critical
applications that require high integrity;
- Search and Rescue Service (SAR), to complement
the current COSPAS-SARSAT system (International Satellite Search
and Rescue System founded by Canada, France, the former USSR and
the USA in 1988 and with 33 countries now participating); and
- Public Regulated Service (PRS), a high-performance,
encrypted service for authorised civil government applications.
12.3 The Galileo programme has four phases:
- the definition phase, which
ran from 1999 to 2001, during which system architecture was designed
and services to be offered decided;
- the development and validation phase, which runs
from 2002 to 2005 and covers development of the satellites and
the system's ground components, as well as validation in orbit.
This phase, which has been running late, is under the management
of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU), which has been set up
for a period of four years. The statutes of the GJU allow for
a minority involvement by non-EU states and other investors;
- the deployment phase — building and launching
of the satellites and establishment of the entire ground-based
component; and
- the commercial operating phase — management
of the system as well as its maintenance and updating.
12.4 Co-operation agreements are in place with China,
Israel and Ukraine. Agreements with India and Morocco have been
initialled and discussions are underway with Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico and Norway.
12.5 From early in 1999 previous Committees reported
to the House on many aspects of the Galileo project, most recently
in November 2004.[23]
The matter has also been debated three times in European Standing
Committee A, the last occasion being 2 December 2004.[24]
The document
12.6 Following a negotiating mandate approved by
the Council in July 2005 the Commission has negotiated a draft
co-operation agreement between the Community and its Member States
and the Republic of Korea which was initialled in January 2006.
This draft Decision is to authorise signature of the agreement.
In proposing the draft Decision the Commission says that Korea
is a country with capabilities in space technology and applications,
is an active user of GPS services in various sectors including
transport, fleet management, science and geodesy and has expressed
a specific interest in extending the use of satellite navigation
through Galileo to various sectors including transport and fisheries
and in upgrading its differential GPS station network to Galileo
signals.
12.7 The agreement covers:
- the principles, scope and
forms of co-operation, listing the areas of co-operation as radio-spectrum,
scientific research and training, industrial co-operation, trade
and market development, standards, certification and regulatory
measures, augmentations, security, liability and cost recovery;
- protection and enforcement of intellectual property,
as well principles for authorising exports of sensitive items
by the Republic of Korea to third countries;
- an objective of promoting Galileo's OS, CS and
SoL services;
- specific exclusion of the PRS service and sensitive
technologies, cryptography, security control features and architecture
for Galileo; and
- detailed provisions governing the working arrangements
between the two parties, particularly regarding co-operation between
the parties in promoting the use of Galileo, a coordinated approach
to be followed at international fora in relation to the development
of GNSS and augmentation systems and a coordinated approach to
be followed in ensuring the security of the Galileo programme.
The Government's view
12.8 The Minister of State, Department of Transport
(Dr Stephen Ladyman) says, noting Korea's expertise in the field
of electronic devices and its active use of GPS services, that
there are potential advantages for the Galileo programme and benefits
for European industry in extending formal co-operation to Korea.
He comments that introduction of Galileo services into the Asian
markets would have an important economic impact.
12.9 The Minister also tells us that beyond this
agreement a number of issues will need to be clarified, including:
- the amount of any financial
contributions from Korea and how they might be used; and
- potential participation of Korea in the management
structure of Galileo, particularly whether it should be allowed
to vote in the GNSS Supervisory Authority, which will eventually
own and regulate the Galileo system.
Conclusion
12.10 The willingness of a variety of third countries
to participate in the Galileo programme is an indication of its
potential value. Although, as the Minister indicates, the role
of Korea has to be further elaborated we are content to clear
this present document. But we will expect to scrutinise in due
course proposals to develop further the relationship with Korea.
12.11 However, more importantly, we remind the
Government that we expect to see soon a more general assessment
of where matters stand on Galileo.
23 See (25690) (25715) 9941/04 (25879) 11834/04 (26012)
13300/04: HC 42-xxxvii (2003-04), para 1 (17 November 2004). Back
24
See Stg Co Deb, European Standing Committee A, 2 December
2004, cols 3-30. Back
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