Navigation by satellite: trans-European positioning network GNSS

The resolution drafted by Brigitte LANGENHAGEN (D, EPP) on the Commission's Communication on a European strategy for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) was approved by the European Parliament. The report welcomes the Commission's proposed action plan as a concrete step forward in the development of a civil multimodal system, fully integrated in the trans-European transport and telecommunications networks. It equally welcomes the Council conclusions, which invite the Commission to proceed with the drawing up of a strategy for GNSS and emphasises the need for a wider range of research resources and to encourage basic research in order to develop appropriate satellites, ground installations and on-board equipment. The Parliament requests the establishment of a European Space Council, responsible for giving clear decisions on the strategic, technical and budgetary guidelines as well as the timetable for GNSS2 after negotiations with the US and Russia. This cooperation should not only concern equal participation in the promotion of a Europeean contribution to GNSS but also equal access to all the resulting basic technologies. The report calls on the Commission to decide, no later than the beginning of 1999, in favour of one of the three options mentioned in its communication for the development of a trans-European positioning and navigation network and to present a coherent strategy defining and setting out the objectives of GNSS 2. It encourages the Commission to negotiate with potential international partners with a view to establishing a transeuropean navigation and positioning network and to act as European negotiator in the international fora for satellite orbital positions and frequencies assigment to the satellite navigation services. Concerned that access to the necessary frequencies should be guaranteed, the Parliament asks that the Commission assess the need for an entity at European level to harmonise rules. Stressing that European participation in GNSS opens up important new job opportunities, the report calls on the Commission to take steps to aid its development and create a structure for the European Space industry and to provide incentives for industrial consortia for the development of high performance on-board systems.�