P6_TA(2006)0385

Galileo

European Parliament resolution on taking stock of the Galileo programme

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on taking stock of the Galileo programme (COM(2006)0272),

- 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 radio navigation programme (COM(2004)0477) and to its position adopted at first reading on 6 September 2005 [1] with a view to the adoption of that Regulation,

- having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 setting up the Galileo Joint Undertaking [2],

- 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),

- 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),

- having regard to Rules 108(5) and 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Galileo is the first European infrastructure to be managed by the Community and therefore poses new challenges, both regulatory and financial; whereas the legal and procedural background is not project-oriented,

B. whereas Parliament has given its full support to the Galileo programme, through its legislative and budgetary responsibilities (for example, in its abovementioned position of 6 September 2005); recognising that Galileo is a strategic project, one of the most important pillars of the Lisbon strategy, and offers great opportunities to SMEs,

C. whereas European engineers and developers working within the European Space Agency and in the space industry have done a great job; noting that the first experimental satellite GIOVE-A has already fulfilled its main mission, that the technical aspects are in place and that now the most important element in bringing the project forward is good governance,

1. Calls on the Commission to assess what modifications in legal and procedural regulations could be made in order to ensure the continued progress of the project; points out that this does not imply reducing the competences and responsibilities of institutions, but may mean the application of solutions that are more creative and more appropriate to the objectives of the programme;

2. Takes note of the new up-dated timetable and calls on the Commission to comply with it and to enforce compliance; together with the approval of the concession contract, asks to be informed about the additional costs resulting from the delay; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to inform Parliament about any significant future alterations, but in a timely fashion, not with a delay of years;

3. Welcomes the progress made in negotiations with the concessionaries; calls on the parties concerned in the European space industry participating in the consortium to strive to reach agreement in a constructive manner, so that this common European project can play its part in fulfilling the Lisbon goals as soon as possible;

4. Calls on the GNSS Supervisory Authority to deliver semi-annual progress reports to Parliament, with special regard to progress in tasks to be imposed upon the GNSS Supervisory Authority from 1 January 2007 by the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004;

5. Calls on the GNSS Supervisory Authority to grant the expert nominated by the European Parliament permanent observer status, in accordance with Article 5(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004;

6. Acknowledges the forthcoming regulation of the Public Regulated Service, which would account for approximately 30 % of the project income, similarly to the Green Paper on applications; calls on the Commission to complete the missing regulations necessary for enabling applications in various areas, so that SMEs will be given sufficient time to prepare for participation;

7. Calls on the Commission, considering the Community character of the project, to ensure that Parliament is informed before the signing of any contract of institutional participation with third countries;

8. Calls on the Council to ensure that no further delay in this project occurs;

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] OJ L 138, 28.5.2002, p. 1.

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

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