P6_TA(2007)0164

Galileo concession contract negotiations

European Parliament resolution of 26 April 2007 on the Galileo concession contract negotiations

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the deployment and commercial operating phases of the European programme of satellite radionavigation (COM(2004)0477), and to its position adopted at first reading on 6 September 2005 [1],

- having regard to the Commission proposal for a Council regulation amending the Statutes of the Galileo Joint Undertaking annexed to Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 (COM(2006)0351), and its position of 24 October 2006 [2],

- having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 of 12 July 2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes [3] and to the Commission proposal for a Council regulation amending that Regulation (COM(2005)0190), and its position of 12 October 2006 [4],

- having regard to its resolution of 28 September 2006 on taking stock of the Galileo Programme [5],

- having regard to the conclusions adopted by the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) on the status of the concession contract negotiations in respect of the global navigation satellite system, held on 22 March 2007,

- having regard to the relevant documents submitted to the TTE Ministers, such as the letter from Vice-President Barrot of the Commission concerning the status of the concession negotiations and the report from the current President of the Council concerning the outstanding issues listed by the bidding consortium,

- having regard to the dual mandate conferred by the TTE Council on Vice-President Barrot of the Commission to submit, to the June 2007 Council meeting, proposals for attaining the long-term public financial objectives and for alternative scenarios, in the event of failure, for resuming effective negotiations that have a time limit with the bidding consortium,

- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure;

1. Reiterates its support for the Galileo Programme, including the EGNOS satellite navigation services as a precursor to Galileo, but is deeply concerned by the fact that the concession negotiations have remained at a standstill for several months and that such delays will have a significant impact on overall cost;

2. Recalls its resolution of 28 September 2006, which called on the parties concerned in the negotiations to reach agreement in a constructive manner; welcomes, therefore, the letter by the Vice- President of the Commission responsible for the Galileo Programme and the conclusions of the TTE Council of 22 March 2007, and emphasises the importance of implementing, by the parties concerned, the decisions reached in December 2005 (the so-called van Miert agreement);

3. Points out that the Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the consultative bodies of the EU overwhelmingly support the clear mandate given to the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for the Galileo Programme to submit to the June 2007 Council, in particular:

(a) a credible roadmap for concluding contracts as soon as possible,

(b) possible solutions for meeting the long-term financial obligations,

(c) a scenario for the earliest possible provision of EGNOS satellite navigation services,

(d) alternative scenarios for the realisation of the programme, especially for costs, risk and affordability;

4. Calls on the Commission to speed up the legislative process related to the regulated market, based on the Commission's Green Paper on Satellite Navigation Applications, in order to ensure a credible business plan;

5. Calls on the Commission to make a proposal — together with the European Space Agency — capable of solving the problem of better public governance by ensuring clear political responsibility and leadership on the part of the Commission;

6. Calls on the Commission, given the Community character of the project, to respect the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission [6] and, in particular, paragraph 19 on external relations, and thus to ensure that Parliament is fully informed of the implementation of the Council's decision authorising the Commission to negotiate with third countries with a view to concluding agreements on their associate membership for participation in the Galileo Supervisory Authority;

7. Calls on the Commission to submit to it one progress report by mid-July 2007 and another well before the negotiations reach the point of a revised proposal for a modified legal base for financing the Galileo Programme being made available;

8. Calls on the Council to ensure that any further delays to this project are kept to a minimum;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

[1] OJ C 193 E, 17.8.2006, p. 61.

[2] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0423.

[3] OJ L 246, 20.7.2004, p. 1.

[4] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0401.

[5] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0385.

[6] See the Annex to Parliament's Decision of 26 May 2005 (OJ C 117 E, 18.5.2006, p. 125).

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