Brussels, 03 Aug 2005
Proposal for a
COUNCIL 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 Ukraine
Full Text
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Ukraine is one of the eight countries within the world space community demonstrating significant technological background on space programmes and important achievements in satellite navigation applications, equipment, user segment and regional technology.
The Ukrainian space industry appears among the world's leader in the design and production of launchers and critical GNSS components.
Since 2000 Ukraine has shown interest in European GNSS projects and has developed an own contribution to the regional EGNOS System Test Bed, precursor of Galileo.
On 7 October 2003 the EU-Ukraine summit adopted the Ukraine - EU Joint Statement on Cooperation in Satellite Navigation.
On 18 February 2004, the Commission adopted a Communication entitled "Progress report on the Galileo research programme as at the beginning of 2004"1 Chapter 2 of which, entitled "International cooperation takes off", sets out a strategy for developing the international dimension of Galileo.
In its conclusions adopted on 9 March 2004 on the basis of this Communication, the Council "encourages the development of international cooperation in this area".
The Commission services followed the invitation of the Ukrainian Government and presented on 21 June 2004 the GALILEO programme to the Ukrainian Government and industries. The presentations were followed by exploratory talks on the status and objectives of the respective policies on satellite navigation and on possible forms of cooperation. They confirmed the value of the Ukraine for the GALILEO programme. The broad scope of an EU-Ukraine cooperation agreement was discussed with a view to recommend it to the respective political authorities.
On 2 July 2004 Ukraine asked to start negotiations on a co-operation agreement on EGNOS/GALILEO.
On 7 October 2004 the Council adopted negotiation directives authorising the Commission to open negotiations for establishing a cooperation agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine.
In formal negotiations in Kiev on 3 June 2005 the representatives of the Commission and Ukraine have agreed on the content and initialled the enclosed Agreement.
The Galileo Special Committee of the Council has been consulted in accordance with the negotiation directives.
The Commission proposes to the Council, on the basis of Articles 133 and 170, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) of the Treaty establishing the European community, to authorise the signature of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil
COM(2004)112 final of 18.2.2004 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Ukraine.