(2004/C 84 E/0142)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3831/03

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 December 2003)

Subject:   Current European-American negotiations on the use of Galileo

With reference to press reports (see for example the Frankfurter Rundschau of 3 December 2003) according to which the US armed forces are to be permitted not only to switch off the Galileo satellite-based system in the event of crisis and conflicts, but also to weaken and reduce the quality of the Galileo signal, can the Commission say whether this information is accurate?

At the same time, I would remind the Commission of the European Parliament resolution on the ministerial meeting of the European Space Agency (15 May 2003), which stressed the need for Europe to have independent access to space and highlighted Europe's common interest in this regard.

Europe's independence from America was one of the main arguments used to justify the immense costs involved in developing this satellite navigation system, at least half of which are to be borne by the taxpayer.

Can the Commission say whether (and how) it will act to ensure that European interests are not sacrificed either to those of the US military or to those of certain sectors of (US) industry at the next round of negotiations in Washington in January 2004?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The agreement being negotiated with the United States is intended to ensure that the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Galileo are compatible and interoperable, to the mutual benefit of all users, who will gain in terms of accuracy and reliability.

To that end, a structure for the signals emitted by the Galileo system needs to be established which will meet the essential national security requirements of both the United States and Europe.

Agreement has just been reached regarding Galileo's governmental signal (commonly known as the Public Regulated Service — PRS) without calling into question either its quality or Europe's authority regarding continuity of service.

Discussions are continuing regarding the other services for which the European side's objective is again to retain full control and optimum performance.

It should be added that Europe has refused to grant the United States a right of veto over any improvements to be made to the structure of Galileo's signals.

The Commission and the Member States are thus aiming to preserve Europe's independence while providing users with the benefits of GPS/Galileo interoperability.

Against this background, the costs of Galileo — equivalent to the cost of 150 kilometres of urban motorway — are in no way exorbitant given the economic, social and societal benefits Galileo will bring.