Galileo: European GNSS Supervisory Authority takes over activities from the Galileo Joint Undertaking

The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), a new Community Agency, officially took over responsibility from the former Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) on 1 January 2007. The Agency's first order of business: to establish a 20-year multi-billion Euro public-private partnership contract with a consortium whose task will be to implement the deployment and operations of the full Galileo system and commercialise its services.

"The Agency is a major step towards the streamlined management of the programmes. In such a complex and high-stakes initiative as Galileo, good governance is the most important element needed to move the project forward," said Pedro Pedreira, Executive Director of the GSA, "The GSA is committed to the rapid conclusion of the concession contract negotiation and expects the same from the concession bidder."


Galileo, the EU-led global satellite navigation system, is currently in the development phase, aiming at the in-orbit validation of the system design and technology. The development phase is co-funded by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The GSA will play a key role for the success of the Galileo system as it will:

. Manage the European satellite navigation programmes, control the use of the funds, and manage the related R&D activities.

. Be the licensing authority vis-a-vis the private concession holder responsible for implementing and managing the Galileo deployment and operation phases and ensure that the concession holder complies with the contract;

. Be responsible for matters related to the right to use the frequencies necessary for the operation of the systems, for the certification of their components, and for their safety and security;

. Be the owner of all the tangible and intangible assets created or developed under the Galileo and EGNOS programmes.

Galileo is the largest industrial project ever organised on a European scale, the first European public-private partnership and the first infrastructure owned by the EU. The Galileo system will allow users to pinpoint their location at any time with a high degree of accuracy, and will ensure Europe's global competitiveness, as well as independence, in satellite navigation products and services.


Background
. The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) is a Community Agency created by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1321/2004, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1942/2006, to manage the public interests relating to, and to be the regulatory authority for, the European GNSS programmes.

. The Galileo Programme is a joint initiative of the European Community (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA). When fully deployed, Galileo will consist of a constellation of 30 satellites in 3 orbits offering unprecedented accuracy and reliability of positioning. This will allow for many applications, products and services to be developed for use in a range of domains including transport, telecommunications, fisheries and agriculture, civil protection, and construction.

. EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), a joint initiative of the European Commission, the European Space Agency and Eurocontrol, uses and enhances, through three geostationary satellites, the information provided by existing GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) to improve the accuracy and reliability of position determination, adding integrity to GPS alike signals.

. The GSA took over the tasks previously assigned to the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU), which was wound up at the end of 2006. GJU was set up in May 2002 by the European Community and the European Space Agency to manage the development phase of the Galileo Programme.

. The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. It is Europe's gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe. ESA is responsible for the technical definition, development and the validation of Galileo and EGNOS. The European Community (EC) and ESA are linked by a strong and growing relationship and a Framework Agreement providing the legal basis for cooperation between the two institutions which entered into force in May 2004. An agreement will be signed between the GSA and ESA covering the R&D activities and the evolution of the GNSS programmes.

Source : GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA)