European Parliament resolution of 26 April 2007 on the Galileo concession contract negotiations
Date: 2007-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, contract, satellite communications, satellite navigation, service concession

C 74 E/752

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2008

Thursday 26 April 2007

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 negotia-
tions that have a time limit with the bidding consortium,

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

Reiterates its support for the Galileo Programme, including the EGNOS satellite navigation services as
1.
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;

Recalls its resolution of 28 September 2006, which called on the parties concerned in the negotiations
2.
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);

(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.

20.3.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 74 E/753

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:

Thursday 26 April 2007

(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;

Calls on the Commission to make a proposal — together with the European Space Agency — capable
5.
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 (1) and, in particular, para-
graph 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 Auth-
ority;

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;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments

9.
and parliaments of the Member States.

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

P6_TA(2007)0165

Human rights in the world 2006 and the EU's policy on the matter

European Parliament resolution of 26 April 2007 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the
World 2006 and the EU's policy on the matter (2007/2020(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the eighth EU Annual Report on Human Rights (2006) (1),

— having regard to Articles 3, 6, 11, 13 and 19 of the Treaty on European Union and Articles 177 and

300 of the EC Treaty,

(1) Council document 13522/1/2006.