Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92002E3732

**WRITTEN QUESTION P-3732/02 by Philip Bradbourn (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Galileo.** 
  
*Official Journal 155 E , 03/07/2003 P. 0180 - 0181*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3732/02

by Philip Bradbourn (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 December 2002)

Subject: Galileo

Would the Commission confirm that it has received a copy of the recent statement by the Royal Institute of Navigation which expresses concern as to the risks posed to the Galileo satellite system by natural and man-made interference, such as EMP, and would it provide details of what contingency measures are proposed in the event of such occurrences to ensure the safety of aircraft and other users of the system once it is operational?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

The Commission can confirm that it has received a copy of the recent statement of the Royal Institute of Navigation on Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) vulnerability.

The Commission has well taken note of the recommendations of the Report by the US Volpe National Transportation Research Centre.

From the initial phase, the Galileo design took account of the potential threats. The Galileo security board is overseeing the Galileo design in a way to accommodate any security or safety concerns.

The system is designed as to minimize the potential vulnerability, notably with the following features:

- Galileo will transmit all its services on a variety of different and separated frequencies thus eliminating most of the concerns expressed in the Volpe report. In this respect, Galileo will be far less vulnerable than the current single frequency GPS system;

- it will offer multi-frequency signals for civilian users much earlier than currently envisaged for Global positioning system (GPS) thus providing the user with a reliable radionavigation service.

The Commission notes that not only the Galileo system but all navigation and communication systems using radio wave technology are, in principal, subject to interference and vulnerability. The necessity for appropriate and adequate alternative systems need to be assessed on a case by case basis by the relevant user community. It needs to be noted that currently most radionavigation services are being used without an alternative radio-navigation system. The Commission will assess the necessity of an optimal mix of radionavigation systems for Europe within the establishment of a European Radionavigation Plan in 2003.

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