8 GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE
SYSTEM
(30902)
13066/09
COM(09) 453
| Draft Council Decision on the signing of the Cooperation Agreement on a satellite navigation between the European Community and its Member States and the Kingdom of Norway
|
| Legal base | Articles 133, 170 and Article 300 (2) EC; —; QMV
|
| Document originated | 4 September 2009
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 14 September 2009
|
| Department | Transport |
| Basis of consideration | EM of 19 October 2009
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council
| Not known |
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
8.1 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. Galileo 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[19] and
there are a number of agreements in place or being negotiated
with third countries about cooperation in the project. From early
in 1999 we and previous Committees have reported to the House
on many aspects of the Galileo project, most recently in September
2009.[20] The matter
has been debated four times in European Standing Committee, most
recently on 26 November 2007,[21]
and once on the Floor of the House.[22]
8.2 Norway is the closest non-EU partner involved
in the Galileo programme. It belongs to the European Space Agency,
has participated informally as an observer in a number of Galileo-specific
Community committees and forums and is a member of the European
Economic Area (EEA).
The document
8.3 With this proposed Decision the Council would
authorise signature of a cooperation agreement between the Community,
the Member States and Norway in respect of GNSS. This follows
from a July 2005 Council mandate authorising the Commission to
enter into negotiations with Norway to establish such an agreement.
Negotiations involved a Special Committee of the Council, took
views from technical, security and transport experts of Member
States and resulted in the parties initialling a draft agreement
on 17 July 2009.
8.4 The agreement lays down the principles, scope
and form of cooperation between the Community and its Members
States on the one hand and Norway on the other. The provisions
covered include:
- cooperation between the parties in promoting
the use of Galileo;
- the coordinated approach to be followed at international
fora in relation to the development of GNSS and augmentation systems;
- the coordinated approach to be followed in ensuring
security of the Galileo programme;
- the coordinated approach to be followed in ensuring
protection and enforcement of intellectual property; and
- the principles for authorising exports of sensitive
Galileo related items by Norway to third countries.
8.5 The Agreement will be complemented by a proposed
EEA Joint Committee Decision amending the two Protocols to the
EEA Agreement which set out the framework for the agreement and
future cooperation on GNSS between the Community, the Member States
and the countries of the EEA, specifically Iceland and Norway.[23]
It is appropriate to amend these Protocols to take into account
the provisions of the Regulations establishing the management
structures for Galileo and permitting additional funding to the
GNSS programmes from non-Community countries, the latter being
particularly important as it would formalise Norway's ongoing
and future political and financial contributions to the Galileo
programme.
The Government's view
8.6 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department
for Transport (Paul Clark), says that a long stated objective
of the Government is to see the Galileo programme as a commercially
viable and global enterprise, that it has always been supportive
of the engagement of non-Community countries to support this aim
and that it therefore welcomes this agreement.
8.7 The Minister comments further that:
- the Government generally encourages further commercial
and political cooperation with other countries in all arenas,
and not just Galileo, as a means to encourage trade and commerce,
providing that this does not in any way prejudice the UK's national
security;
- it fully recognises that where Galileo is concerned
there are areas that are of a particularly sensitive nature;
- the proposed agreement recognises the need to
ensure there are safeguards in place to provide assurance for
Member States;
- in particular it specifically addresses the need
to safeguard access to sensitive technology, including Galileo's
encrypted Public Regulated Service;
- there are clear advantages for the Galileo programme
and benefits for European industry in extending formal co-operation
between the Community and Norway;
- the Government recognises the important role
that Norway has played in the Galileo programme to date and the
important role that it will continue to play in financial contributions
and in hosting a number key ground facilities as the programme
moves towards achieving the full operational capability of Galileo;
and
- the Government therefore welcomes this agreement
that further strengthens the close working relationship that exists
between the Community and Norway on GNSS.
Conclusion
8.8 We note the utility of the involvement of
Norway in the Galileo project and, whilst clearing the proposed
cooperation agreement from scrutiny, draw it to the attention
of the House.
19 See http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/About_ESA/SEMW16ARR1F_0.html
and http://www.esa.int/esaNA/index.html.
Back
20
(30514) 6257/09: see HC 19-xxvi (2008-09), chapter 3 (10 September
2009). Back
21
See Stg Co Deb, European Standing Committee, cols. 3-40. Back
22
See HC Deb, 2 July 2007, cols. 763-87. Back
23
Because of financial uncertainty and difficulties, the terms of
the Protocols are currently suspended with respect to Iceland.
The third member of the EEA, Lichtenstein, is not covered by the
Protocols. Back
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