Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2011)51 - Conclusion and provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Satellite Navigation between the EU and Norway

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dossier COM(2011)51 - Conclusion and provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Satellite Navigation between the EU and Norway.
source COM(2011)51 EN
date 14-02-2011
Norway is our closest non-EU cooperation partner in the European GNSS systems Galileo and EGNOS. Norway has contributed politically, technically and financially to all phases of Galileo through its membership in the European Space Agency and its informal participation in the Galileo-specific EC governance structures over the years.

This Agreement formalises together with the Joint EEA-EU Committee Decision 94/2009, which incorporates Regulations 683/2008 and 1321/2004 (as amended) into the EEA Agreement, the cooperation between Norway and the European Union in the field of satellite navigation.

The Agreement establishes the general cooperation principles and the rights and obligations of Norway in those areas – particularly in security - that are not covered by the existing Galileo acquis, i.e. the above mentioned decision 94/2009.

The Agreement is necessary because Norway will host two important ground installations that will contribute to the proper functioning of the system. In this context Norway gives a political commitment to subscribe to future Union policy regarding the protection of European GNSS Systems.

The Agreement has been negotiated on the basis of negotiation directives adopted by the Council on 8 July 2005. The Agreement was signed on 22 September 2010.

This Agreement complements the Joint EEA-EU Committee Decision 94/2009 by amending Protocols 31 and 37 to the EEA Agreement by which Norway subscribes to Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 of 12 July 2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes, Regulation (EC) No 1942/2006 of 12 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the further implementation of the European satellite navigation programmes (EGNOS and Galileo). Duplication between the two instruments has been avoided.

In view of the signature of the agreement an inter service consultation took place (CISNet - deadline 29/06/2009 - consultation TREN-54986) and comments from the services were incorporated.

It led to the Commission Proposal for Council Decision for signature COM/2009/453.

The agreement was signed on 22 September 2010.

It must now be concluded.

Proposal

The Commission proposes to the Council, on the basis of Articles 171 and 172, in conjunction with Article 218(8) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to authorise the conclusion and the provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement on Satellite Navigation between the European Union and its Member States and the Kingdom of Norway.

The Commission is invited to adopt this proposal and to transmit it to the Council.