COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 19 July 1999

on the involvement of Europe in a new generation of satellite navigation services - Galileo-Definition phase

(1999/C 221/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Whereas:

(1) The development of a satellite navigation system for civil use leads to increased independence in one of the most important key technologies;

(2) The development of a satellite navigation system for civil use affords European industry the chance to enhance its competence and to participate in opportunities opened up by this future technology on a large scale;

(3) Satellite-based positioning and navigation are increasingly gaining importance in nearly all fields of technology, being a key element for the setting-up of a multimodal infrastructure for all forms of aviation, water and land transport. Satellite navigation has the potential to make a major contribution to an effective use of transport infrastructure, to an increase in safety, to a reduction of environmental pollution and to the setting-up of an integrated transport system with crucial importance for the Single Market;

(4) A European satellite navigation system will have a positive impact on information and telecommunication industries developing a European market;

(5) Lack of European influence on satellite navigation systems could make it difficult in future to resist possible unilaterally decided and excessive charges and there is only a limited possibility of quickly developing alternatives;

(6) Safety-critical navigation services used in Europe have to be subject to civil public sector regulation, this also being a precondition for unrestricted use for all purposes (certification);

(7) Satellite positioning, navigation and timing can develop their full use only as a global system; international cooperation is necessary by means of which worldwide interoperable and compatible services can be offered and costs reduced, while at the same time guaranteeing quality of service;

(8) User requirements and user demands should be of key importance in deciding on the development of a European satellite navigation system and its characteristics, taking into account requirements developed by other relevant international bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well as the World Trade Organisation (WTO);

(9) The European Union contributes to setting-up and developing trans-European Networks (TEN) in the fields of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures in accordance with Article 154 of the Treaty;

(10) The Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) has decided to start the technical definition phase of the GalileoSat-programme (space segment and associated ground infrastructure), within the framework of the Galileo mission requirements to be set within the European Union, and with respect to the need for complementary work to be carried out by the Commission;

(11) In its Resolution of 13 January 1999 the European Parliament has given European satellite navigation its full support;

(12) In order to attain these objectives, Community direction is necessary, while complying with the principle of subsidiarity,

WELCOMES the fact that the Commission submitted a communication entitled "Involving Europe in a new generation of satellite navigation services - Galileo -", resulting from cooperation with the GNSS High-Level Group composed of representatives of national governments, users, telecommunication operators, the relevant international organisation (particularly ESA and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol)) and industry,

WELCOMES the fact that ESA will thoroughly examine the technical aspects within the project,

EXPECTS the Communiy and Member States measures to ensure largely private interest in developing and financing of this system, which would be a central factor in deciding on future phases of the project,

EXPECTS the definition phase, which should deliver exhaustive results on feasibility, design, capability, structure, reliability, control and cost of the system, including deployment and operational phases, to be limited to an amount of EUR 40 million out of Community funds, and to be completed by the end of the year 2000,

EXPECTS that the Community measures will develop industry policy and management structures motivating each Member State to invest in Galileo as a whole,

RECALLS

- its Resolution on telematics in the transport sector(1),

- its Resolution on the European contribuion to the development of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)(2),

- its conclusions, drawn up on 17 March 1998 on "Towards a Trans-European Positioning and Navigation Network: A European Strategy for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)",

- that the Community, within its specific research programmes, can contribute to the development of a Global Navigation Satellite System in accordance with Article 163 of the Treaty,

- the financial Regulation for the TEN programme, that allows for contributions to the financing of the Galileo project,

INVITES the Commission, firstly, to

- submit rapidly before the summer break 1999 comprehensive draft mandates based on the strategy guidelines for cooperation, to the Council for negotiations in close consultation with Member States in order to fully explore possibilities for cooperation and/or future development with the United States of America and the Russian Federation while continuing technical consultations,

- explore the interest of other third countries to cooperate in this area,

- propose as soon as possible a set of clear guidelines for this work,

INVITES the Commission, secondly, to present a thorough cost-benefit analysis encompassing all relevant options for the whole project, and within this framework to:

- examine scenarios for the creation of revenue sources, e.g. by specific levies and charges for certain high-quality services including worst-case and best-case scenarios, and to bring forward proposals for their implementation,

- develop and to present, at the beginning of the year 2000, framework conditions for the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) including an appropriate distribution of roles and tasks as well as costs and risks within the entire programme life-cycle cost-scenario,

- create timely and realistic conditions for securing finance largely from private sources within the framework of a public-private partnership,

- take all adequate measures necessary to prepare a public-private partnership as soon as possible, while ensuring optimal competition for the contracting of all segments and phases of the project,

The Commission shall present the results of this work to the Council as soon as they are available to allow early consideration of the viability of the project and of its advantages compared with current systems and their developments.

INVITES the Commission, thirdly, in order to fully address the abovementioned tasks, to start without delay in cooperation with the ESA and the Member States the definition phase of the project on the basis of its proposals for the technical concept and the provisional organisational structure, and within this framework to:

1. set up immediately on a provisional basis a Galileo Steering Committee composed of representatives of the Member States form the High-Level Group, including ESA as an observer, and a Programme Management Board to support the Galileo Steering Committee, and in parallel to start work on the legal and institutional arrangements allowing for its effective operation,

2. set up immediately a reporting scheme to the Galileo Steering Committee which will assist the Commission in all tasks of the definition phase, in particular on all aspects of issues related to the security of the system, and to the Council, covering all aspects of the Galileo programme's progress and finance,

3. flesh out and to present the medium (development and validation phase) and long-term (deployment and operation phase) organisational structure of the project in order to ensure a uniform approach, with a clear presentation of management and controlling structures for the definition phase, including surveillance and control as well as the detailed analysis of its cost and finance by the year 2000,

4. integrate all relevant users and service providers early in the definition phase of the project in an appropriate manner,

5. examine the possibility of bringing in multi-annual contributions from the TEN budget and draw up proposals for their implementation,

6. provide for:

- the optimal integration of the European geostationary navigation overlay service system (EGNOS System) into Galileo in close consultation with the EGNOS Operators and Infrastructure Group (EOIG), with a view to ensuring continuity, integrity and reinforcement of capability including the technology and infrastructure developed in EGNOS,

- the compliance with integrity and other requirements at high latitudes,

7. define appropriate research and development tasks within the fifth framework programme or all other budgets which can be performed in cooperation with or in addition to the ESA and to submit a list of these tasks,

8. urgently carry out in cooperation with all States involved and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) necessary steps for frequency allocation with the objective to present proposals before the end of 1999, and to simultaneously initiate in relation with all concerned bodies necessary steps for preparation of the World Radio Conference (WRC),

9. take into account, in particular, all aspects of issues related to the security of the system and to propose adequate mission requirements by the end of 1999,

10. ensure that all Member States will benefit from the involvement in the definition phase of a European satellite navigation system

INVITES the Commission, fourthly, to provide details of financing of the ongoing work on satellite navigation including EGNOS, to the extent that the Commission is involved, in close consultation with the joint European Tripartite Group,

INVITES the Commission, finally, to report regularly on progress of the project to the Galileo Steering Committee and to the Council, and to submit the results of the definition phase to the Council by the end of the year 2000 to allow a Council decision to be taken on the further development of Galileo,

INVITES Member States to take appropriate measures for participation in a new generation of satellite navigation services and to support the work of the Commission in an appropriate manner.

(1) OJ C 309, 5.11.1994, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 379, 31.12.1994, p. 2.