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COUNCIL DECISION

of 1 September 2006

on the signing, on behalf of the Community, of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part

(2006/700/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 133 and 170, in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The signing of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community, subject to the Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the said Agreement.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Community, subject to its conclusion.

Done at Brussels, 1 September 2006.

For the Council

The President

E. TUOMIOJA

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COOPERATION AGREEMENT

on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’,

and

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE CZECH REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

IRELAND,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,

THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,

THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,

THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

Contracting parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community, hereinafter referred to as ‘Member States’,

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, hereinafter referred to as ‘Korea’,

of the other part,

hereinafter jointly referred to as ‘the Parties’;

CONSIDERING the common interests in the development of a global navigation satellite system (hereinafter referred to as GNSS) for civil use,

RECOGNISING the importance of Galileo as a contribution to the navigation and information infrastructure in Europe and Korea,

RECOGNISING the advanced level of Korea's satellite navigation activities,

CONSIDERING the increasing development of GNSS applications in Korea, Europe and other areas in the world,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Objective of the Agreement

The objective of the Agreement is to encourage, facilitate and enhance cooperation between the Parties in civil global satellite navigation within European and Korean contributions to a civil global navigation satellite system (GNSS).

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Agreement:

Article 3

Principles of cooperation

The Parties agreed to apply the following principles to cooperation activities covered by this Agreement:

Article 4

Scope of cooperation activities

1.   The sectors for cooperation activities in satellite navigation and timing are: radio-spectrum, scientific research and training, industrial cooperation, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures, augmentations, security, liability and cost recovery. The Parties may adapt the list in paragraph 1 by decision of the GNSS Steering Committee established under Article 14 of this Agreement.

2.   The present Agreement does not include cooperation between the Parties in the following areas. If it is agreed by the Parties that mutual benefits will be derived from the extension of cooperation to any of the following areas, this will require the negotiation and conclusion of appropriate agreements between the Parties:

3.   This Agreement shall not affect the institutional structure established by the European Community law for the purpose of the operations of the Galileo programme. Neither does this Agreement affect the applicable regulatory measures implementing non-proliferation and export control commitments, including control of intangible transfers of technology, nor does it affect national security measures.

Article 5

Forms of cooperation activities

1.   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 Article 4.

2.   The Parties agree to conduct cooperation activities as mentioned in Articles 6 to 13 of this Agreement.

Article 6

Radio spectrum

1.   Building on past successes in the framework of the International Telecommunication Union, the Parties agree to continue their cooperation and mutual support in radio-spectrum issues.

2.   In this context the Parties shall exchange information on frequency filings and promote adequate frequency allocations for Galileo and prospective Korean GNSS including the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) in order to ensure the availability of Galileo services for the benefit of users worldwide and notably in Korea and in the Community.

3.   Recognising the importance of protecting the radio navigation spectrum from disruption and interference, the Parties shall identify sources of interference and seek mutually acceptable solutions to combat such interference.

4.   The Parties agree to task the Committee under Article 14 to define the appropriate mechanism in order to ensure effective contacts and collaboration in this sector.

5.   Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as derogating from the applicable provisions of the International Telecommunications Union, including the ITU Radio Regulations.

Article 7

Scientific research

The Parties shall promote joint research activities in the field of GNSS through European and Korean research programmes, including the European Community Framework Programme for Research and Development, the research programmes of the European Space Agency, and the Ministries and agencies of Korea related to GNSS.

The joint research activities should contribute to the planning of future developments of a GNSS for civil use.

The Parties agree to task the Committee under Article 14 to define the appropriate mechanism aimed at ensuring effective contacts and participation in the research programmes.

Article 8

Industrial cooperation

1.   The Parties shall encourage and support cooperation between the industries of the two sides, through such means as joint ventures and Korean participation in relevant European industrial associations as well as European participation in relevant Korean industrial associations, with the objective of setting up the Galileo system as well as promoting the use and development of Galileo applications and services.

2.   The Parties will establish a joint advisory group on industrial cooperation under the Steering Committee set up under Article 14 in order to investigate and guide the cooperation on satellite development and manufacturing, launch services, ground station facilities, and application products.

3.   To facilitate industrial cooperation the Parties shall grant and ensure adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights in the fields and sectors relevant to the development and operation of Galileo/EGNOS, in accordance with the relevant international standards set by the TRIPS Agreement and international conventions to which both parties are signatories, including effective means of enforcing such standards.

4.   Exports by Korea to third countries of sensitive items and technologies specifically developed and funded by the Galileo programme, and defined by the competent Galileo security authority to be under export control, will have to be submitted by Korea for prior authorisation by the competent Galileo security authority. Any separate agreement referred to in Article 4(2) of the Agreement shall also provide an appropriate mechanism for the Parties to recommend potential items to be subject to export authorisation.

5.   In order to contribute to the objectives of the Agreement, the Parties shall encourage strengthened ties between the European Space Agency and the Ministries and agencies of Korea related to GNSS.

Article 9

Trade and market development

1.   The Parties shall encourage trade and investment in European and Korean satellite navigation infrastructure, equipment, Galileo local elements and applications.

2.   To this end, the Parties shall make an effort to 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 this growth.

3.   To identify and respond effectively to user needs the Parties shall consider establishing a joint GNSS user forum.

4.   This Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties under the Marrakech Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation.

Article 10

Standards, certification and regulatory measures

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

One objective of the coordination is to promote 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 agree to endeavour to create favourable conditions for developing Galileo applications.

2.   To promote and implement the objectives of this Agreement, the Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate on satellite positioning, navigation and timing-related matters that arise particularly in the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Telecommunications Union.

3.   At the bilateral level the Parties shall ensure that measures relating to technical standards, certification and licensing requirements and procedures concerning GNSS do not constitute unnecessary barriers to trade. Domestic requirements shall be based on objective, non-discriminatory and applicable transparent criteria.

4.   The Parties shall take the necessary regulatory measures to allow the use of GALILEO receivers, ground and space segments in the territories under their jurisdiction. In this regard, the government of the Republic of Korea in the area of radio communications shall grant GALILEO treatment no less favourable than that accorded to any other like services.

5.   The Parties shall promote the participation of Korean representatives in European standardisation organisations.

Article 11

Development of global and regional GNSS ground augmentation systems

1.   The Parties shall cooperate with one other to define and implement ground system architectures allowing an optimal guarantee of Galileo/EGNOS integrity, accuracy and continuity of Galileo and EGNOS services and interoperability with other GNSS systems.

2.   To this end the Parties will cooperate at the regional level with a view to implementing a ground regional augmentation system based on the Galileo system in Korea. Such a regional system is expected to provide regional integrity services in addition to those provided by the Galileo system globally. As a precursor, the Parties may consider the extension of EGNOS in the East Asian region.

3.   At the local level, the Parties shall facilitate the development of local Galileo elements.

Article 12

Security

1.   The Parties shall protect the Global Navigation Satellite Systems against misuse, interference, disruption and hostile acts.

2.   The Parties shall take all practicable steps to ensure the continuity and safety of the satellite navigation services and the related infrastructure in their jurisdiction.

3.   The Parties recognise that cooperation to ensure the security of the Galileo system and services is an important common objective.

4.   Hence the Parties shall establish an appropriate consultation channel to address GNSS security issues.

The practical arrangements and procedures are to be defined between the competent security authorities of both Parties.

Article 13

Liability and cost recovery

The Parties shall cooperate to define and implement a liability regime and cost recovery arrangements in order to facilitate the provision of civil GNSS services.

Article 14

Cooperation mechanism

1.   The coordination and facilitation of cooperation activities under this Agreement shall be accomplished by the Government of the Republic of Korea on behalf of Korea and by the European Commission on behalf of the Community and its Member States.

2.   In accordance with the objective in Article 1, these two entities shall establish a GNSS Steering Committee, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’ for the management of this Agreement. This Committee shall consist of official representatives of each Party and it shall establish its own rules of procedure based on mutual consensus.

The functions of the Steering Committee shall include:

3.   The Committee shall, as a general rule, meet annually. The meetings will be held alternatively in the Community and in Korea. Extraordinary meetings may be organised at the request of either Party.

The costs incurred by the Committee or in its name shall be borne by the Party which recommended or designated the member or members of the Committee. The costs other than those for travel and accommodation which are directly associated with meetings of the Committee shall be borne by the host Party. The Committee may set up Joint Technical Working Groups on specific subjects the Parties consider appropriate, such as industrial cooperation and standardisation.

4.   The Parties welcome the potential participation of Korea in the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, in accordance with the applicable European Community legislation and the modalities and procedures governing such participation.

Article 15

Funding

1.   Each Party shall bear the costs of fulfilling its respective responsibilities under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Parties. The modalities and procedures referred to in Article 14(4) will include an appropriate financial contribution to the Galileo programme by the non-EU country deciding to apply to participate in the Supervisory Authority.

2.   The Parties shall take all reasonable steps in accordance with their laws and regulations to facilitate entry into, stay in and exit from its territory of persons, capital, material, data and equipment involved in or used in cooperation activities under this Agreement.

3.   When specific cooperation schemes of one Party provide for financial support for participants from the other Party, any such grants, financial contributions or other forms of contribution from one Party to the participants of the other Party in support of those activities shall be granted tax and customs exemption in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations in force in the territories of each Party at the time such grants and financial contributions or other forms of contribution are made.

Article 16

Exchange of information

1.   The Parties shall establish administrative arrangements and enquiry points in order to provide for consultations and effective implementation of the provisions of this Agreement.

2.   The Parties shall encourage further exchanges of information concerning satellite navigation among the institutions and enterprises of the two sides.

Article 17

Consultation and dispute resolution

1.   The Parties shall promptly discuss, at the request of any of them, on any questions arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement. Any disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled by friendly consultations between the Parties.

2.   Paragraph 1 shall not prevent the Parties from having recourse to dispute settlement under the WTO Agreements.

Article 18

Entry into force and termination

1.   This Agreement enters into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties have notified the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose. Notifications shall be sent to the Council of the European Union which shall be the depository of this Agreement.

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

3.   This Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties in writing. Any amendment shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties have notified the Depository of the completion of their procedures necessary for this purpose.

4.   This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years and shall continue in force thereafter unless terminated by either Party at the end of the initial five-year period or at any time thereafter by giving to the other Party an advance notice of at least six months in writing of its intention to terminate this Agreement.

This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Korean languages, each text being authentic.

Pour le Royaume de Belgique

Voor het Koninkrijk België

Für das Königreich Belgien

Cette signature engage également la Communauté française, la Communauté flamande, la Communauté germanophone, la Région wallonne, la Région flamande et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.

Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest.

Diese Unterschrift bindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flämische Gemeinschaft, die Französische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flämische Region und die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt.

Za Českou republiku

På Kongeriget Danmarks vegne

Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Eesti Vabariigi nimel

Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία

Por el Reino de España

Pour la Republique française

Thar cheani Na hÉireann

For Ireland

Per la Repubblica italiana

Για την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία,

Latvijas Republikas vārdā

Lietuvos Respublikos vardu

Pour le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

A Magyar Köztársaság részéről

Għar-Repubblika ta’ Malta

Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

Für die Republik Osterreich

W imieniu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej

Pela República Portuguesa

Za Republiko Slovenijo

Za Slovenskú republiku

Suomen tasavallan puolesta

For Republiken Finland

För Konungariket Sverige

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Por la Comunidad Europea

Za Evropské společenství

For det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Euroopa Ühenduse nimel

Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per Ia Comunità europea

Eiropas Kopienas vārdā

Europos bendrijos vardu

az Európai Közösség részéről

Għall-Komunitâ Ewropea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Za Európske spoločenstvo

za Evropsko skupnost

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vagnar

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