Setting up the European GNSS Agency

The Council reached a general approach, pending the European Parliament's position at first reading, with regard to a draft regulation amending the 2004 regulation on the structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes.

The Commission submitted its proposal in March 2009. During discussions in the Council preparatory bodies, the proposal has been substantially modified as regards the provisions on security accreditation. The European Parliament's position at first-reading is expected early in 2010.

The objective of the proposed regulation is to bring regulation 1321/2004, which established a European Global Navigation Satellite System Supervisory Authority, now to become the European GNSS agency, into line with the rules adopted in 2008 for the governance and financing of the European satellite navigation programmes.

The rules, introduced by regulation 683/2008 on the further implementation of those programmes, take account of the fact that the concept of private management of the navigation satellite programme Galileo, as initially provided for in the regulation of 2004, has been abandoned. As a consequence, the Commission has been given full management responsibility and ownership of all Galileo assets has been transferred to the EU.

It has therefore become necessary to adapt regulation 1321/2004 accordingly. To this end, the new draft regulation:

·        redefines the relation between the agency and the Commission by strengthening the powers of the Commission, which will provide the guidelines for the agency's work;

·        establishes rules for security accreditation. While the Commission keeps general responsibility for all security matters, security accreditation and operation of the Galileo security monitoring centre will fall within the remit of the agency. A Security Accreditation Committee will be set up as an autonomous body within the agency, to deal with tasks such as approval of the security accreditation strategy and of satellite launches, authorisation to operate systems and services as well as authorisation to manufacture certain products.