EU–Switzerland cooperation agreement on European satellite navigation programmes

SUMMARY OF:

Cooperation agreement between the European Union, its Member States and Switzerland on the European satellite navigation programmes

Decision 2014/20/EU on the signing and the provisional application of the cooperation agreement between the EU, its Member States and Switzerland on the European satellite navigation programmes

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECISION?

The agreement aims to encourage, facilitate and enhance cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Switzerland in satellite navigation under civil control, and in particular by Switzerland taking part in civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS) programmes.
Decision 2014/20/EU approves the signing and provisional application of the agreement on behalf of the EU.

KEY POINTS

Principles of cooperation

The EU and Switzerland agree to apply the following principles to their GNSS cooperation:

gaining mutual benefit based on a balance of rights and obligations including each other’s contributions, along with access to all European GNSS services covered by the agreement and to the Galileo programme public regulated service (PRS) subject to a separate agreement;
reciprocal opportunities to cooperate on EU and Swiss GNSS projects;
sharing timely information that could affect cooperation;
protecting intellectual property rights;
freedom to provide satellite navigation services in the territories of both parties;
trading in GNSS goods without restriction in the territories of both parties.

Scope of cooperation

The parties agree to cooperate in the following sectors:

radio spectrum, protecting the radio navigation spectrum from disruption and interference, and continuing cooperation and mutual support as part of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU);
scientific research and training, promoting joint research and training activities, and contributing to planning future GNSS developments;
procurement, following on from existing commitments between the EU and Switzerland, and under the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization (WTO);
industrial cooperation, including joint ventures, cross-participation and promoting Galileo applications and services;
intellectual property rights, to facilitate industrial cooperation and ensure that rights are protected in the relevant fields, in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);
export control and non-proliferation of technologies, data and items specially designed for European GNSS programmes, equivalent to those in force in the EU;
trade and market development, including encouraging trade and investment in EU and Swiss satellite navigation infrastructure, positioning and timing equipment, and using the future GNSS user forum to identify and respond effectively to users’ needs;
standards, certification and regulation, emphasising Galileo’s interoperability with other GNSS systems and promoting its innovative use for open, commercial and safety-of-life purposes as a worldwide navigation and timing standard;
security, including protecting systems against misuse, interference, disruption and hostile acts to ensure the continuity, safety and security of satellite navigation services, related infrastructure and critical assets in the parties’ territories;
sharing classified information, allowing Switzerland to share information on European GNSS programmes with those EU Member States with which it has relevant bilateral agreements, and setting up a legal framework allowing exchanges of classified information on the Galileo programme;
access to services, giving Switzerland access to all European GNSS services covered by the agreement and to the Galileo public regulated service (PRS) subject to a separate agreement.

Swiss participation

Switzerland has the right to participate in the European GNSS Agency, which, since 2021, has been called the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
Swiss representatives may participate as observers in committees set up to manage European GNSS programmes, including the GNSS Programme Committee and the GNSS Security Board, and their working groups and task forces.

Joint committee and funding

The EU/Switzerland GNSS Committee comprises representatives of the parties. It is responsible for managing the agreement, drawing up recommendations and reaching decisions by common agreement.
Switzerland contributes to the European GNSS programme based proportionally on the country’s gross domestic product relative to those of Member States.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The agreement has provisionally applied since 1 January 2014.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

What is GNSS? (European Union Agency for the Space Programme)
Galileo is the European global satellite-based navigation system (European Union Agency for the Space Programme)
The EU space programme (European Union Agency for the Space Programme)
Galileo (European Space Agency)
The future of positioning, navigation & timing (European Space Agency).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the European Satellite Navigation Programmes (OJ L 15, 20.1.2014, pp. 3–17).

Council Decision 2014/20/EU of 23 September 2013 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and the provisional application of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the European Satellite Navigation Programmes (OJ L 15, 20.1.2014, pp. 1–2).

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