1.   The objective of this Agreement is to encourage, facilitate and enhance long-term cooperation between the Parties in satellite navigation under civil control and in particular by the participation of Switzerland in the European GNSS programmes.

2.   The form and conditions of the participation of Switzerland in the programmes shall be as laid down in this Agreement.

1.   The sectors for cooperation activities in satellite navigation and timing shall be radio-spectrum, scientific research and training, procurement, industrial cooperation, intellectual property rights, export control, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures, security, exchange of classified information, staff exchanges and access to services. The Parties may amend this list of sectors in accordance with Article 25.

2.   This Agreement shall not affect the institutional autonomy of the European Union to regulate the European GNSS programmes nor the structure established by the European Union for the purpose of the operations of the European GNSS programmes. Nor shall this Agreement affect the applicable regulatory measures implementing non-proliferation commitments, export control, controls of intangible transfers of technology. Nor shall it affect national security measures.

3.   Subject to their applicable regulatory measures, the Parties shall foster, to the fullest extent practicable, the cooperation activities under this Agreement with a view to providing comparable opportunities for participation in their activities in the sectors listed under paragraph 1.

1.   The Parties shall continue cooperation and mutual support in radio-spectrum issues in the framework of the International Telecommunication Union (hereinafter referred to as "ITU"), taking into account the Memorandum of Understanding on the Management of ITU filings of the Galileo radio-navigation satellite service system of 5 November 2004.

2.   The Parties shall exchange information on frequency filings and protect adequate frequency allocations for Galileo in order to ensure the availability of Galileo services for the benefit of users worldwide and notably in Switzerland and in the European Union.

3.   In order to protect radio navigation spectrum from disruption and interference, the Parties shall identify sources of interference and seek mutually acceptable solutions to combat such interference.

4.   Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed so as to derogate from the applicable provisions of the ITU, including the ITU Radio Regulations.

1.   The Parties shall promote joint research and training activities in the field of European GNSS through European Union and Swiss research programmes and other relevant research programmes of the Parties. The joint research activities shall contribute to planning the future developments of European GNSS.

2.   The Parties shall define the appropriate mechanism aimed at ensuring effective contacts and participation in the relevant research programmes.

1.   For acquisitions relating to the European GNSS programmes, the Parties shall apply their commitments under the Agreement of Government Procurement (hereinafter referred to as "GPA") of the World Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as "WTO") and under the Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on certain aspects of government procurement.

2.   Without prejudice to Article XXIII of the GPA (Article III of the revised GPA), Swiss entities shall have the right to participate in the procurement for the provision of services related to the European GNSS programmes.

1.   In order to ensure the application of a uniform policy of export control and non-proliferation concerning the European GNSS programmes between the Parties, Switzerland shall timely adopt and enforce, within its jurisdiction and in accordance with its national legislation and procedures, measures of export control and non-proliferation of technologies, data and items which are specially designed or modified for the European GNSS programmes. Those measures shall provide a degree of export control and non-proliferation equivalent to that in force in the European Union.

2.   In case an event occurs where an equivalent degree of export control and non-proliferation as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article cannot be achieved, the procedure of Article 22 shall apply.

1.   The Parties shall encourage trade and investment in European Union and Swiss satellite navigation infrastructure and global navigation, positioning and timing equipment, including Galileo local elements and applications relevant to the European GNSS programmes.

2.   For the purposes of paragraph 1, the Parties shall raise the level of public awareness concerning the Galileo satellite navigation activities, identify potential barriers to growth in GNSS applications and take appropriate measures to facilitate such growth.

3.   To identify and respond effectively to user needs, entities of the Parties may use the future GNSS User Forum.

4.   This Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties under the Agreement establishing the WTO.

1.   Recognising the value of coordinating approaches in international standardisation and certification fora concerning global satellite navigation services, the Parties shall, in particular, jointly support the development of Galileo and EGNOS standards and promote their application worldwide, emphasising interoperability with other GNSS.

One objective of that coordination shall be to promote the broad and innovative use of the Galileo services for open, commercial and safety of life purposes as a worldwide navigation and timing standard. The Parties shall create favourable conditions for developing Galileo applications.

2.   In order to promote and implement the objectives of this Agreement, the Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate on all GNSS matters that arise notably in the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Maritime Organisation and the ITU.

3.   The Parties shall ensure that measures relating to technical standards, certification and licensing requirements and procedures concerning European GNSS do not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade. Domestic requirements shall be based on objective, non-discriminatory, pre-established transparent criteria.

4.   The Parties shall take the necessary regulatory measures to allow the complete use of Galileo receivers, ground and space segments in the territories under their jurisdiction. In this regard, Switzerland shall, in the territory under its jurisdiction, grant Galileo treatment no less favourable than that accorded to any other like radio-navigation satellite services systems.

1.   In view to protect the European GNSS programmes against threats such as misuse, interference, disruption and hostile acts, the Parties shall take all practicable steps to ensure the continuity, safety and security of the satellite navigation services and the related infrastructure and critical assets in their territories without prejudice of Article 4(2).

2.   For the purposes of paragraph 1, Switzerland shall timely adopt and enforce, within its jurisdiction and in accordance with its national legislation and procedures, measures providing an equivalent degree of security and safety as those applicable in the European Union as regards the protection, control and management of sensitive assets, information and technologies of the European GNSS programmes against threats and undesired divulgation.

3.   In case an event occurs where such an equivalent degree of security and safety as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article cannot be achieved, the procedure of Article 22 shall apply.

1.   Exchange and protection of European Union classified information shall be in accordance with the Security Agreement as well as the Implementing Arrangements of the Security Agreement.

2.   Switzerland may exchange classified information with national classification marking on European GNSS programmes with those Member States with which it has concluded bilateral agreements to that effect.

3.   The Parties shall seek to establish a comprehensive and coherent legal framework allowing exchanges between all the Parties of classified information concerning the Galileo programme.

1.   A Joint Committee known as the "European Union/Switzerland GNSS Committee" is hereby established. It shall be composed of representatives of the Parties and be responsible for the management and proper application of this Agreement. To this end, it shall draw up recommendations. It shall take decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement; those decisions shall be carried out by the Parties in accordance with their own rules. The Joint Committee shall reach its decisions by common agreement.

2.   The Joint Committee shall establish its rules of procedure, which shall contain, inter alia, provisions on the convening of meetings, the appointment of the chairman and the latter's term of office.

3.   The Joint Committee shall meet as and when necessary. The European Union or Switzerland may request the convening of a meeting. The Joint Committee shall meet within 15 days of a request under Article 22(2).

4.   The Joint Committee may decide to set up such working groups or groups of experts as it sees fit to assist it in the accomplishment of its tasks.

5.   The Joint Committee may decide to amend Annex I.

1.   In order to ensure the satisfactory implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall exchange information on a regular basis and, at the request of one of them, shall hold consultations within the Joint Committee.

2.   The Parties shall promptly consult, at the request of one of them, on any question arising out of the interpretation or application of this Agreement.

1.   Each Party may, after consultations within the Joint Committee, take appropriate safeguard measures, including the suspension of one or several cooperation activities, if it finds that an equivalent degree of export control or security is no longer assured between the Parties. Where any delay could jeopardise the good functioning of GNSS, provisional protective measures may be taken, without prior consultation, provided that consultations are held immediately after their adoption.

2.   The scope and duration of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be limited to what is necessary in order to remedy the situation and to secure a fair balance of rights and obligations under this Agreement. The other Party may ask the Joint Committee to hold consultations about the proportionality of those measures. If it is not possible to settle this dispute within six months, the dispute may be submitted by either Party for binding arbitration in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex I. No question of interpretation of provisions of this Agreement that are identical to corresponding provisions of European Union law may be resolved within that framework.

1.   The European Union or Switzerland may terminate this Agreement by notifying the other Party. This Agreement shall cease six months after the receipt of such notification.

2.   The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or duration of any arrangements made under it or any specific rights and obligations that have accrued in the field of intellectual property.

3.   In case of termination of this Agreement the Joint Committee shall make a proposal in order to enable the Parties to settle any outstanding questions including financial consequences taking into account the principle of pro rata temporis.

1.   This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own internal procedures. It shall enter into force the first day of the second month following the date of the last notification of approval.

2.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Switzerland and the European Union agree, as regards elements of this Agreement falling within the competence of the European Union, to apply it provisionally from the first day of the month following the date of the second notification confirming the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose.

During provisional application of this Agreement the Joint Committee referred to in Article 20 shall be made up of representatives of Switzerland and the European Union.

3.   This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period.

4.   This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, all texts being authentic.