EU–Morocco cooperation agreement on a civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS)

SUMMARY OF:

Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and Morocco

Decision (EU) 2016/430 on the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement on a GNSS between the European Community and its Member States and Morocco

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECISION?

The aim of the agreement is to encourage, facilitate and enhance bilateral cooperation on European Union (EU) and Moroccan contributions to a civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS).
Council Decision (EU) 2016/430 approves the agreement.

KEY POINTS

Cooperation

The following principles apply:

mutual benefit based on an overall balance of rights and obligations, including contributions and payments;
partnership in the Galileo programme according to its procedures and rules;
reciprocal opportunities in EU and Moroccan GNSS projects;
timely sharing of information;
appropriate protection of intellectual property rights;
unrestricted access to each other’s satellite navigation services;
free trade in GNSS equipment.

The agreement covers scientific research, industrial manufacturing, training, application, service and market development, trade, radio spectrum, integrity, standardisation, certification and security.

Other forms of cooperation include:

International Telecommunications Union work on radio-spectrum issues;
scientific research in the framework programme for research and development, the EU space programme, and EU and Moroccan programmes;
joint industrial ventures and participation in each other’s industrial associations;
encouragement for trade and investment in satellite-navigation infrastructure, equipment and Galileo applications;
coordination in international standardisation and certification fora and support for worldwide application of Galileo standards;
collaboration on ground system architecture to ensure Galileo’s integrity and the continuity of its services;
agreement on the need to protect GNSSs against misuse, interference, disruption and hostile acts, and joint designation of an authority for the security of the Galileo system and services;
definition and implementation of a liability regime and cost-recovery arrangements;
possibility for Morocco to participate in the European GNSS supervisory authority;
identifyingcontact points as communication channels;
commitment to settle amicably any dispute on interpretation of the agreement and, if this fails, to use the dispute settlement mechanism in the March 2000 association agreement.

The agreement:

is in force for 5 years and automatically extended for similar periods, unless one party indicates otherwise in writing 3 months in advance;
may be terminated on 1 year’s written notice.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The agreement entered into force on 1 March 2015.

BACKGROUND

The Council of the European Union authorised the Commission on 21 April 2005 to open negotiations with Morocco on the GNSS cooperation agreement. This was signed on 12 December 2006.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and the Kingdom of Morocco (OJ L 76, 23.3.2016, pp. 3–15).

Council Decision (EU) 2016/430 of 10 February 2015 on the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and the Kingdom of Morocco (OJ L 76, 23.3.2016, pp. 1–2).

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