Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Green paper on Satellite Navigation Applications
Date: 2007-11-28
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: European standard, new technology, protection of privacy, satellite communications, satellite navigation, scientific cooperation

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Official Journal of the European Union

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III

(Preparatory Acts)

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

72nd PLENARY SESSION HELD ON 28 AND 29 NOVEMBER 2007

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Green paper on Satellite Navigation Applications’

(2008/C 53/01)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

— considers Europe's own satellite navigation system, Galileo, essential, given that the project has signifi-

cant strategic importance in terms of economic, social and security development;

— is convinced that the Galileo system will significantly contribute to the creation of growth and jobs

under the revised Lisbon agenda and, in doing so, enhance territorial cohesion;

— believes that Galileo will contribute to better management of all forms of transport in towns and
regions. It will be possible to more accurately prepare flooding and other crisis management models,
to coordinate rescue operations and monitor environmental change. In combination with infrastruc-
ture and underground mapping systems, the system will facilitate planning for territorial development
and construction projects, notably increase mobility for the disabled, and so on. The European satellite
navigation system will provide momentum for continued innovation;

— stresses that Galileo has the potential to be a real incubator for achieving the Lisbon Strategy goals;

— thinks that it would be highly appropriate to create a European agency charged with supporting the
development of applications and promoting the Galileo project. This agency should have venture
capital at its disposal to support SMEs in the development of applications;

— believes that a Europe-wide system of promotion, incentives and training should be created, because

only a coordinated approach can have the desired effect;

— is ready to assume the role of intermediary and coordinator between the European Commission, the

relevant bodies for the Galileo system and local and regional authorities.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Rapporteur: Mr Petr OSVALD (CZ/PES) Member of the town assembly of the City of Plzeň

Reference document

Green paper on Satellite Navigation Applications

COM(2006) 769 final

Recommendations

Relevance for the Committee of the Regions

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Key messages

The quality of all our decisions depends on how accurately

1.
we can determine our position in space and time;

2.
considers Europe's own satellite navigation system, Galileo,
essential, given that the project has significant strategic impor-
tance in terms of economic, social and security development.
Soon, navigation systems will become an integral part of our
lives,
just like mobile phones or the Internet. Although we
mainly see it used at the moment in transport, in combination
with peripheral systems (maps, etc.), it will also greatly influence
a range of our other activities from urban and rural planning to
environmental protection, crisis management, construction and
agriculture;

3.
believes that it would be strategically, as well as politically
and economically detrimental for European regions to be depen-
dent on another power's military system (GPS — USA,
GLONAS — Russia, Compass/Beidou — China);

is convinced that

the Galileo system will significantly
4.
contribute to the creation of growth and jobs under the revised
Lisbon agenda and, in doing so, enhance territorial cohesion;

expects

5.
that Galileo will become a new instrument
encouraging further growth and increasing European regions'
competitiveness. It will contribute to better management of all
forms of transport in towns and regions. It will be possible to
more accurately prepare flooding and other crisis management
models, to coordinate rescue operations and monitor environ-
mental change. In combination with infrastructure and under-
ground mapping systems, the system will facilitate planning for
territorial development and construction projects, notably
increase mobility for the disabled, and so on. The European
satellite navigation system will provide momentum for
continued innovation;

6.
is aware that the Galileo programme represents an impor-
tant step for the development of European regions. The goals of
the initiative are in line with the CoR key priorities. Thanks to
Galileo, benefits can be achieved such as greater security and
reduced congestion for all forms of transport, improved moni-
toring of the environment and changes to it, better prevention
of crisis situations, improved coordination of crisis management
and better targeted, quicker and more effective intervention.
GNSS will improve the quality of spatial planning, the prepara-
tion and construction and monitoring of building work,
increase mobility for the disabled and reduce breakdowns in
energy infrastructures. If enough attention, effort and coordina-
tion are given to the preparation and operation of Galileo, this
project will launch a new wave of innovation, research, develop-
ment and application of new technologies in industry as well as
instrument for
everyday life. It will thus become a powerful
raising competitiveness both in individual European regions and
the EU as a whole;

stresses that Galileo has the potential to be a real incu-
7.
this to
for achieving the Lisbon Strategy goals. For
bator
happen, however, it is essential that not only Member States but
also all European regions are actively involved in this process.
Its success depends on the level of inclusion and involvement of
local and regional partners. In the regions, Galileo will create a
raft of new and interesting business opportunities for local and
regional stakeholders such as SMEs. Among other things, it will
deepen partnerships between local and regional governments,
businesses, science and research institutes and citizens in the
regions. If all aspects of the Galileo project are implemented in
a balanced way not only in the old EU Member States but also
in the new ones, which should be integrated much more effec-
tively into the project, it will become one of the leading instru-
ments for strengthening territorial cohesion across the EU;

8.
notes that, despite the fact that Galileo will offer its basic
services to the mass market free of charge, services with a
higher guaranteed reliability and precision will be subject to a
fee. For the strengthening of territorial cohesion, it is important
that less developed European regions are not disadvantaged in
this regard and are actively involved in the whole process from
the very beginning.
In particular they should be guaranteed
access to the system and applications;

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Responses to questions raised by the Green Paper

data, being left alone to bear the costs. Moreover, appropriate
account must be taken of the security aspects and data protec-
tion requirements — in some cases we are talking about very
detailed data;

Concerning Question 1 — on measures for accelerating the market
introduction of GNSS applications, the appropriateness of the legal
framework and the need for further developing it as well as the role of
public authorities:

Development should begin of reasonably priced applica-

12.
tions to improve mobility for the disabled;

9.
In the transport sector, many Community technical regula-
tions need to be revised so that their requirements conform to
the standards of the Galileo system and avoid any conflicts.
Only then will it be possible to guarantee the required level of
interoperability between the different systems and applications.
One of the important factors for speeding up the introduction
of safe navigation system applications into the market will be
rigorous certification of compatibility with the Galileo system
according to the revised Community technical regulations, and
the definition of basic technical requirements for trackside and
other safety equipment using satellite navigation. In general, it
will be necessary to demonstrate the safety of the system as part
of the certification process. The certification authority must be a
specialised body with the necessary competence and authority
to carry out this work (with a distinction being made between
the national and European levels). It is also necessary to decide
whether other systems or applications will be submitted for
the
certification in relation to the various components of
Galileo system (including the EGNOS system);

10.
New technologies bring with them new risks. That is
why it is essential to continue to continue work, for example, in
the prevention and defence against deliberate
the areas of
attacks and to examine carefully issues of accountability (public
and private);

Concerning Question 2 — perception of the current legal framework
concerning data protection issues as applied to services using GNSS
and the need for further measures for responding to specific privacy
issues:

New technologies

13.
increase the need to responsibly
resolve privacy issues and examine them in more detail, not
least concerning applications aimed at ensuring protection from
illegal acts or those dealing with crisis management. Emphasis
should be placed on preventing and countering misuse of the
information and data collected;

14.
The limits between potential commercial exploitation of
each application and protection of personal data (tracking
goods, customers, employees, etc.) must be defined. Applications
specific privacy certification and
should be submitted for
measures must be taken to avoid abuse of the data collected.
The majority of the information that could infringe personal
privacy is generated by individuals themselves without
their
knowledge as a side effect of using these products. Therefore it
is necessary to assess applications for the potential to create
such dangerous side effects;

Concerning Question 3 — on whether the overall research effort in
Europe is commensurate with the general objective of ensuring Europe's
competitiveness in state-of-the-art technology, increased research effort
and exploitation of research results:

11.
In the land survey, energy, water, telecommunications
and other sectors, certification and updating of map data need
to be ensured by harmonising access to individual bodies. The
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
programme considerably improves local and regional authori-
ties' access to data and the harmonisation of data as such. It is
important to clarify the link between GMES and the INSPIRE
directive (Directive 2007/2/EC establishing an Infrastructure for
Spatial
Information in the European Community) and the
method and conditions (e.g. intellectual property, limitations on
and conditions of use) under which public authorities will be
able to access the data held to provide to private bodies The
local and regional
level, too, should be able to benefit from
GMES, and this should be taken into consideration when devel-
oping the initiative and applications. In particular, any additional
costs for local and regional authorities arising from adaptations
for example by
of existing databases that may be required,
harmonising existing data or changes to data interfaces, should
be offset by appropriate financial mechanisms so as to avoid the
local and regional level, which is in possession of much of these

15.
Common interests and priorities need to be defined and
efforts to support development, research and scientific activities
— and in particular their financing — need to be linked. For
establishing the next strategy it would be advisable to analyse
the recommendations of science and research already carried
out as part of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJ), European
Space Agency (ESA) and EU framework programmes. The new
strategy also needs to take into account the role of local and
regional authorities, which could themselves find numerous
applications for satellite navigation systems and in particular
initiate and stimulate interest in research and development in
these areas in the regions;

16.
To identify new applications at local and regional level,
local and regional authorities could set up forms of collabora-
tion and research with universities, creating valuable synergy
that would improve research through direct observations on the
ground;

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i.e.

17.
End-users should both play an increasing role in the
development of applications. The effort to develop applications
should not be unilateral,
from technology firms. Scope
should be given to the future end-users of these products so
that technology firms can create tailor-made applications for
them. It is often more effective to have a clear idea of the desti-
nation for a product at the moment when it is first conceived,
and so have a more precise definition, than adapt a universal
application later. In addition, functional coherence between the
existing and already operational systems needs to be supported;

Concerning Question 4 — on support for competence centres and
training programmes and the manner
in which public authorities
should stimulate SMEs:

A Europe-wide system of promotion,

18.
incentives and
training should be created, because only a coordinated approach
can have the desired effect. The Committee of
the Regions
for this system as it can
should be an important element
support the involvement of the local and regional authorities in
this activity. It is essential that this system operates as closely as
possible to the citizens, users (local and regional authorities will
themselves be major end-users) and companies which will create
actual applications. While it is obvious that SMEs will have an
important role in the development of this system, large compa-
nies that can play a role in guaranteeing compatibility with
other systems that they operate (such as energy companies,
mobile phone providers, etc.) should also not be forgotten;

19.
It would be highly appropriate to create a European
agency charged with supporting the development of applications
and promoting the Galileo project. This agency should have
venture capital at its disposal to support SMEs in the develop-
ment of applications. The agency should have a contact point in
each country and work together not only with national bodies
but also with local and regional authorities as well as business
and research associations. The EU should not only be respon-
sible for the creation of the system as such, but also for its
applications and promoting the project. The GSA could also
fulfil this role, however, it cannot under its existing remit;

21.
It would be very useful to organise seminars and training,
in which local and regional authorities could participate,
because they have close links to the end-users of the applica-
tions as well as to SMEs and the general public. The Committee
of the Regions could play a coordinating role;

Concerning Question 5 — on the most important cooperation and
particular sector of the world that needs to be targeted:

The discussions aimed at ensuring compatibility and
22.
interoperability of
the Galileo, Glonass, Compass and GPS
systems (and others) must be supported as well as international
coordination of work relative to the various applications, parti-
cularly with regard to ensuring cross-border interoperability. It
is important not only to ensure the compatibility of the systems
but also, as far as possible, the compatibility of the applications.
Furthermore, greater attention should be paid to cooperation in
the development of systems guarding society against terrorist
attacks and all other forms of criminality;

Concerning Question 6 — on whether standards should be established
for satellite navigation devices and services, and at which level:

regional

23.
It would be desirable to set in place coordination at the
European level so that GNSS applications could be assessed not
only for safety considerations but also for their compatibility
and interoperability. We find it unfortunate to see incompatible
applications developed at national or
level, as is
currently the case for national toll collection systems. Further-
more, it would appropriate to work out a single framework to
allow a common approach to be defined in relation to the intro-
duction of measures aiming to guarantee the trouble-free opera-
tion of the localisation function of the Galileo system (equipped
with a level of integrity with regard to safety conforming to
appropriate standards), by taking account of factors which can
levels
influence its operation at
required for precision in the localisation. As a matter of
urgency, where the level of responsibility falls in the area of
‘regulated public services’ will need to be determined on the
European and national levels so that the project can function in
a coordinated and comparable way in all the Member States;

level and other

the local

20.
As the European satellite navigation system project has
no clearly defined timetable or a study on its economic benefits
and profitability, it is very difficult for companies that develop
applications to obtain bank loans. The creation of a financial
instrument specifically dedicated to this project is therefore of
the utmost importance. It would be useful to reflect further on
the idea of sharing applications. Given the importance of the
project as a whole for achieving the Lisbon Strategy objectives,
it is neither appropriate nor sufficient to use solely the Seventh
Framework Programme and so on for financial support;

Concerning Question 7 — on which safety applications require certifi-
cation, whether the Galileo infrastructure safety-related requirements
are sufficient to constitute the basis for system certification, including
infrastructure lifetime and the issue of responsibility:

24.
Certification is required particularly for those systems
and applications taking advantage of guaranteed Galileo services
(and in particular all safety-related applications), where it is
necessary to proceed in accordance with the appropriate stan-
dards. For these services, the transparency of these requirements
also needs to be guaranteed to avoid misuse;

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In order

to show that a certain level of

25.
integrity
concerning safety of the system is achieved, it would be advi-
sable to adopt the necessary measures applicable to all stages of
the life cycle of the device. In general, the issue of the manufac-
turer's and system operator's responsibility in the event of break-
down or operational failure needs to be resolved;

Concerning Question 8 — on better coordination of spectrum at the
international and European level and whether measures should be
adopted regarding potential sources of interference:

26.
The problem of ensuring compatibility of the Galileo
system with other GNSS systems needs to be furthered consid-
ered, not least to ensure that they do not interfere with each
other;

Responses to Questions 9 and 10 have already been covered in
the replies to the previous questions.

Recommendations and position of the Committee of the Regions

understands and supports the intention of the European
27.
Commission and the European Parliament
to finance the
completion of the Galileo system within the current financial
perspectives, because it offers the best and only feasible response
to the present situation, even at the cost of renegotiation and
the minimum changes needed for the immediate continuation
of the project. The Committee alerts the Council and European
Commission to the fact that the success of the system as a
whole depends very much on how quickly it is implemented;

draws

28.
the Council and European
Commission to the need for quickly finding a method for finan-

the attention of

Brussels, 28 November 2007.

cing the completion of
from European public
the project
resources and to agree without delay on the location of the GSA
agency and its new roles, resulting from changes in the finan-
cing of the system, preferably by the end of 2007;

29.
invites the Council and European Commission to define
a precise and realistic timetable, in particular the date for the
introduction of the Galileo system into service, as well as moni-
toring this scrupulously and ensuring it is upheld. Every effort
should be made to avoid further delays;

30.
points out to the Council and European Commission
that the development of different applications must be carried
out at the same time as the preparations and the launch of the
Galileo system so that it can be fully utilised as soon as it comes
into operation and no further delays are caused by applications
being developed only afterwards. Preparation of the applications
and their end users must therefore be given the same attention
and support as the navigation system itself;

31.
advises the Council and the European Commission that
it is not enough to adopt only a national approach for the
success of the project, there must be a regional approach too.
Local and regional authorities must play their own important
and unique role in the preparation process, introduction of the
system, development of applications and promotion. To this
end, the Committee of the Regions is ready to assume the role
of
and coordinator between the European
Commission, the relevant bodies for the Galileo system and
local and regional authorities.

intermediary

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE