WRITTEN QUESTION E-3904/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. European satellite agency — Galileo programme.
Date: 2003-12-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, European Union Satellite Centre, administration of the Institutions, operation of the Institutions, satellite navigation, seat of institution

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species is listed in Annex II of the Directive, Member States are required to designate special areas of
conservation for its conservation. It is also likely to indirectly benefit from the conservation of wetlands in
Natura 2000 for other species and habitat types of Community Interest. Its listing in Annex IV of the
Directive requires Member States to establish a system of strict protection for it which prohibits, ‘inter alia’,
all forms of deliberate capture or killing of specimens of the species as well as deterioration or destruction
of its breeding sites or resting places. The Community is also supporting the conservation of Otters in the
United Kingdom through the ‘LIFE in UK rivers’ demonstration project (2) under the LIFE Regulation (3).

Improving the quality of water is also covered by a wide range of Community water legislation. The first
set of Directives was aimed at specific water uses such as fish waters (Directive 78/659/EEC (4)), shellfish
waters (Directive 79/923/EEC (5)) and waters for the abstraction of drinking water (Directive 75/440/
EEC (6)) or specific pollutants (Directive 76/464/EEC (7)). Later on, the focus of Community water policy
shifted to regulate key pollution sources such as urban wastewater (Directive 91/271/EEC (8)), nitrates from
agricultural sources (Directive 91/676/EEC (9)) and industrial pollution (IPPC Directive 96/61/EC (10)).
The combination of these and other measures partly affecting water quality have contributed to the
significant water quality improvements seen throughout Europe in the past 30 years. However, there are
still a number of areas where water quality has not reached levels to ensure the sustainable functioning of
the ecosystem. An overview of trends and the current status has recently been published by the European
Environment Agency (11).

The new Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (12) will further improve this positive trend by requiring
coordinating management of river basins with a view to achieving ambitious environmental objectives
regarding the ecological and chemical quality of surface waters.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) http://www.english-nature.org.uk/lifeinukrivers/index.html
(3) Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 concerning the Financial

Instrument for the Environment (LIFE), OJ L 192, 28.7.2000.

(4) Council Directive 78/659/EEC of 18 July 1978 on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in

order to support fish life, OJ L 222, 14.8.1978.

(5) Council Directive 79/923/EEC of 30 October 1979 on the quality required of shellfish waters, OJ L 281,

10.11.1979.

(6) Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the

abstraction of drinking water in the Member States, OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.

(7) Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into

the aquatic environment of the Community, OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.

(8) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.
(9) Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused

by nitrates from agricultural sources, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.

(10) Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control,

OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.

(11) Europe’s water: An indicator-based assessment, Topic report No 1/2003:

(http://reports.eea.eu.int/topic_report_2003_1/en)

(12) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3904/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject: European satellite agency (cid:1) Galileo programme

In response to two earlier questions on the European satellite agency, the Commission stated on 23 July
2002 (in Answer P-1940/02 (1))
the Galileo
programme, which would be managed by a joint undertaking, the management of the deployment and

following the preliminary development phase of

that,

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operational phases would be entrusted to a private entity (concession) following a call for tenders. At the
time, no decision had yet been made on the possible setting up of a European multimodal satellite
navigation agency. The agency’s location and resources and the number of people it would employ were
thus not known. In its reply of 25 February 2003 to the second question (E-3919/02 (2)), the Commission
said that the private entity holding the Galileo concession would take over responsibility for the system’s
deployment and operational phases and would decide, according to its own criteria (efficiency, cost, etc.),
where to set up its company head office and operations centre(s). Furthermore, during the second half of
2003, the Commission would be sending the Council and Parliament a proposal for the establishment of a
public structure, whose seat would be determined at a later date.

Given the probability of a decision shortly being taken on the agency’s location, there is renewed interest
in Italy in the issue of whether the seat can be brought to the country’s capital city. Representatives of the
Lazio Regional Council and the Rome Provincial and City Councils have come together with businessmen
and researchers to sign a resolution putting Rome forward once again as a candidate for the agency’s seat.

Given the above, would the Commission state:

1. whether it has already submitted to the Council and Parliament a proposal for the establishment of the

public structure referred to, and when the call for tenders is to be issued?

2. whether Rome can be considered to fulfil all the requirements to stand as a candidate, and which

other European cities are standing as candidates?

3. what is the deadline for the decision on the European satellite agency’s seat?

4. what funding has been earmarked for the project?

5. how many jobs are expected to be created?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 249.
(2) OJ C 192 E, 14.8.2003, p. 146.

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

On 31 July 2003 the Commission transmitted to the Council and the European Parliament a proposal for
a Regulation on the establishment of
the European satellite
radionavigation programme (1) which is now being discussed within the two institutions. The proposal
provides for the setting up of a Supervisory Authority which will be the system’s public licensing
authority.

the management of

structures

for

In November 2003 the Galileo joint undertaking, active since mid-2003, launched a call for tender to
select the private concession holder who will be responsible for the deployment and operational phases of
the programme.

The Commission proposes that the Supervisory Authority’s headquarters should be in Brussels but a final
decision has not yet been taken. As the private concession holder has not yet been selected, no indication
can be given as to where their headquarters will be.

The Commission hopes that the proposal for a Regulation on the future management structures will be
adopted during the Irish presidency so that the Supervisory Authority can then be set up as soon as
possible.

The financing plan for the deployment and operational phases of Galileo has not yet been finalised, as it
will depend on the respective contributions of the public sector and the private concession holder.

The Supervisory Authority will employ a limited number of people (less than fifty). As for the concession
holder, no indication can be given at this stage.

(1) COM(2003) 471 final.