COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(91) 445 final 
Brussels, 20 November 1991 
PMET 5 
Amendment to the proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
• J&TI on the LORAN-C radio-navigation system 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(3) 
of the EEC-Treaty) 
- 2 -
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. On 21 January 1991 the Commission sent to the Council a Proposal for a 
Council Decision on the LORAN-C radio-navigation system.1 
Its main objective is to encourage the Member States to Join in regional 
agreements designed to establish - on the basis of stations offered by the 
United States Coast Guard and those setup in France - a LORAN-C 
radio-navigation system covering the whole of Western, Southern and Central 
Europe and usable by ships, aircraft and land vehicles. The resulting 
system would cover the whole of European waters, so promoting maritime 
safety and the protection of the marine environment. 
2. Pending Parliament's opinion, the Council held an exchange of views on 
the proposal from the Commission on 21 June and called on the Permanent 
Representatives Committee to continue the work. 
3. At its plenary sitting on 8 October Parliament approved the proposal 
from the Commission subject to certain amendments. In view of the fact 
that these are consistent with its original proposal, the Commission 
proposes to go along with Parliament's opinion, especially as it includes a 
number of points highlighted by the Economic and Social Committee, the 
Council and the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). 
A. Parliament Is concerned at the continued existence of present 
ground-based r^oio-navigation systems, such as Decca, alongside LORAN-C 
chains. It also proposes that the Commission should continue to work 
towards the setting-up of a radio-navigation plan which would take account 
of progress with satellite navigation systems, existing terrestrial systems 
and the Member States' radio-navigation plans. Parliament also proposes a 
number of editorial changes. 
The Commission entirely shares Parliament's concerns, accepts all its 
amendments and presents to the Council, herewith, an amendment to its own 
original proposals. 
1 COM(91)001 final, 21 January 1991 
1 
5. In its explanatory memorandum with the original proposal the Commission 
stated that the United Kingdom had decided in principle, for technical and 
financial reasons, to Join the civil LORAN-C system proposed for North-West 
Europe and the North Atlantic. 
For financial reasons, and following a fresh offer from Decca for the 
replacement of the Decca facilities in its territory, the United Kingdom 
changed its policy and so infprmed the Council when it met on 21 June. 
While regretting this decision on the United Kingdom's part, the other 
parties to the preliminary agreement for the North European chain 
nevertheless decided to continue negotiations with a view to finalizing an 
agreement qn the basis of an alternative configuration of the transmitting 
stations, with no ground stations in the United Kingdom, providing coverage 
similar to that originally advocated in North-West Europe. The 
United Kingdom was also called on to reconsider its decision. It confirmed 
that decision *n favour of the Decca system, however, while making clear 
that it had no objections to the setting-up of a LORAN-C project for 
North-West Europe by the other interested States, to which the 
United Kingdom would nevertheless not be able to make any financial 
contr ibut ion. 
in view of this decision t.he Commission would emphasize that, while it 
recommends the establishment of regional LORAN-C chains, the Proposal for a 
Decision does not affect the rights of Member States to keep on other 
radlo-navig^ticr systems such as Decca. 
The I ALA is of the opinion, however, that coverage with the Decca system is 
of limited range and that this system is not suited to the development of 
regional agreements. In view of the new Recital 6a, as proposed by 
Parliament, the amendment to Article 1 is consistent with the policy 
recommended by the Commission. Having Itself adopted the clarification to 
the effect that accession by Member States to regional LORAN-C agreements 
is without prejudice to existing radio-navigation systems, the Commission 
must make clear its view that Decca fulfils local needs. Having regard to 
the last recital in its original proposal, the Commission is of the opinion 
that the continuance of such local systems cannot cause the users 
additional expense. 
6. During the discussions within the Council a number of Member States 
underscored the importance of the LORAN-C system to general aviation and 
inland transport, which should be reflected In a radlo-navIgatIon plan. 
Regarding the last-mentioned point, Parliament calls on the Council to give 
the Commission a mandate. 
By accepting th<3 inclusion of a new second indent in Article 2, as referred 
to by Parliament, the Commission undertakes to take account of the 
interests of all modes of transport, as do the radio-navigation plans of 
the United States and the USSR. 
é 
7. The Economie and Social Committee delivered a favourable opinion on the 
proposal from the Commission on 24 April.1 
In its opinion the ESC expressed the view, among others, that it was 
essential for the development of the LORAN-C system to involve a role for 
the Community bodies in coordinating the various initiatives and giving 
positive encouragement to ever broader participation of the Member States 
at the European level. The ESC also took the view that a more rational and 
balanced distribution of the costs between the various users and 
governments should be secured. 
Regarding funding, a matter also touched upon in discussions within the 
Council, it is worth pointing out that at the present stage there have been 
no proposals from the Commission on this subject; the Commission's 
objective is primarily to lay down the principles for radio-navigation 
systems in the short and medium terms, without trying to predetermine their 
funding. 
The Commission is of the opinion, however, that the matter of funding must 
not be lost sight of. Hence its proposal to include, by means of a new 
second Indent b in Article 2, a requirement for it to report to the Council 
on this important point. 
8. By proposing a new Recital 1a, Parliament draws the attention of the 
Council, the Member States and the Commission to Resolution A 666 (16) of 
the Internat io.nl Maritime Organization (IMO). 
In that Resolution IMO recommends a global satellite navigation system 
supplemented by ground-based regional system. 
Regarding the global radio-navigation system, however, regard must be had 
to the lALA's policy for ground-based radio-navigation systems, as notified 
to IMO in May this year. 
Through a policy of supporting the LORAN-C and CHAYKA systems, the IALA is 
aiming to encourage endeavours towards international cooperation designed 
to extend and inprove LORAN-C and CHAYKA coverage throughout the world. 
With that in view, the IALA emphasizes that it is convinced that in the 
foreseeable future it will be necessary to have ground-based 
radio-navigation system operating in parallel with global satellite 
navigation systems. 
The IALA takes the view that, in order to reduce costs for system users, a 
standard ground-based radio-navigation system should be adopted where 
possible. To that end it recommends the LORAN-C and CHAYKA systems, in 
view of their ability to interact, their long range, and their high levels 
of availability and accuracy, as the systems which should be selected for 
preference and be adopted as world-wide standard ground-based 
radio-navigation systems. 
1 Opinion 91/C 159/08-90; 0J C 159, 17.6.1991. 
Î 
In view of this policy the Sub-Committee on the Safety of Navigation, at 
its 37th session In September 1991, proposed to IMO's Maritime Safety 
Committee that the lALA's policy should be taken into account When 
potential radio-navigation systems were under examination with a view to 
adoption in accordance with the policy set out in Resolution A 666(16). 
In view of thic, the Commission, in accepting Parliament's proposed 
amendment to Article 3, deems it necessary and beneficial to include an 
explicit reference to the work of IMO. 
9. In view of the specific provision made for existing radio-navigation 
systems, of the mandate for a European radio-navigation plan, of the 
reference to IMO's policy on the subject, and of the Economic and Social 
Committee's considerations, the Commission is of the opinion that its new 
proposal extends the scope of the original proposal for a decision and 
improves it. Consequently it can also accept Parliament's proposal that 
the title of the proposal for a decision should be amended. 
% 
Amendment to the Proposal for a Council Decision on the 
LORAN-C radio-navigation system 
(Presented to the Council by the Commission 
pursuant to Article 149(3) of the EEC Treaty) 
The Proposal for a Council Decision of 21 January 1991 
(doc. COM(91)01 final) has been amended as follows: 
Original text Amended text 
Title 
Proposal for a Council Decision 
on the LORAN-C radio-navigation 
system Proposal for a Council Decision 
on radio-navigation systems for 
Europe 
Recital 1a (new) 
Whereas in its resolution A.666(16) 
IMO refers both to the need for a 
world-wide radio-navigation system 
and to the possibility of regional 
applications of terrestrial systems 
such as Chayka. Decca Navigator. 
Loran-C. Omega and Differential 
Omega : 
Recital 2a (new) 
Whereas IALA confirms that.In order 
to meet the needs of maritime 
navigation, a terrestrial radio-
navigation system is necessary 
until general purpose satellite 
systems are widely available, and 
also thereafter in parallel to such 
systems for the foreseeable future. 
H 
Original text Amended text 
Recital 4 
Whereas the International Association 
of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) 
supports the need for a terrestrial 
radio-navigation system to meet the 
needs of mari tine navigation; Deleted (taken into recital 2a) 
Recital 5 
Whereas certain Member States intend 
to participate in one or more 
regional agreements on the 
establishment of LORAN-C chains 
covering North-West Europe and the 
North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, 
the Iberian Peninsula and the Baltic; Whereas certain Member States 
intend to participate in one or 
more regional agreements on the 
establishment of LORAN-C chains 
covering North-West Europe and the 
North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, 
the Iberian Peninsula and the 
Baltic, while a number of these 
areas are already covered by 
terrestrial systems, such as Decca 
and Omega ; 
Recital 6a (new) 
.A. 
Whereas Member States are not 
required to abandon existing 
radio-navigation systems, such as 
Decca. provided they fulfil their 
LORAN-C obligations in accordance 
with regional agreements; 
Article 1(1) 
1. The Member States shall 
participate in or Join regional 
agreements on LORAN-C as far as 
necessary to realize the 
international objectives. JL Without prejudice to existing 
radio-navigation systems, the 
Member States shall participate 
in or Join regional agreements 
on LORAN-C as far as necessary 
to realize the international 
object ives. 
M 
Article 1(2) 
2. With regard to their participation 2. With regard to their 
in regional agroements the participation in regional 
Member States shall seek to achieve agreements the Member States 
the LORAN-C configurations which shall seek to achieve the 
cover the widest possible geographical radio-navigat ion configurations 
area in Europe and neighbouring which cover the widest possible 
waters. geographical area in Europe and 
neighbouring waters. 
Article 2. indents 2a and 2b (new) 
The Commission: The Commission: 
- shall ensure coordination between 
the Member States participating in 
regional agreements with a view to 
ensuring compatibility between the 
LORAN-C chains introduced on the 
regionaI level , - shall ensure coordination 
between the Member States 
participating in regional 
agreements with a view to 
ensuring compatibility between 
the LORAN-C chains introduced at 
regional level , 
- shall encourage the development - shall encourage the development 
of LORAN-C receivers, taking account of receivers, taking account of 
of the ongoing development of the ongoing development of 
^ik-
satellite systems and the 
enhancement of the present 
LORAN-C system, satellite systems and the 
enhancement of the present 
LORAN-C system, 
- pursue its work with a view to 
setting UP a radio-navigation plan. 
taking account of the development 
of satellite navigation systems, 
the existing terrestrial systems 
and the radio-navigation plans of 
the Member States. 
- shall report to the Council on 
the financing of the commitments of 
Member States participating in 
regional LORAN-C chains. 
and shall propose, where necessary, and shall propose the necessary 
to the Council che necessary measures to the Council should 
measures. the need arise. 
G 
Article 3 
In their role aï member or 
observer within the International 
Association of Lighthouse Authorities 
the Member States and the Commission 
shall strive to obtain the 
participation of the greatest 
possible number of countries In the 
European regional LORAN-C chains with 
purpose of enlarging the coverage of 
LORAN-C worldwide in order to 
improve safety of navigation and 
protection of *.ie marine environment. Within the International 
Association of Lighthouse 
Author i t ies and the Internat ionaI 
Maritime Organization the Member 
States and the Commission shaI I 
support efforts to set up a 
global radio-navigation system 
and shaI I str ive to obtain 
the participation of the greatest 
possible number of countries in 
the European regional chains with 
the purpose of enlarging world-wide 
coverage in order to improve the 
safety of navigation and protection 
of the marine environment. 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 445 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 07 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-513-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-77555-6 
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