CELEX: 51991PC0445
Language: en
Date: 1991-11-20
Title: Amendment to the proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the LORAN­C radio­navigation system

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                            COM(91) 445 final
                                            Brussels, 20 November 1991
PMET 5
                        Amendment to the proposal for a
                                COUNCIL DECISION
                     on the LORAN-C radio-navigation system
• J&TI
           (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(3)
                              of the EEC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 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
 ---pagebreak--- 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
 ---pagebreak---                                         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.
 ---pagebreak--- 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.
 ---pagebreak---                                          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).
 ---pagebreak---  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.
 ---pagebreak---                                       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.
 ---pagebreak---                                       %
           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           Proposal for a Council Decision
on the LORAN-C radio-navigation           on radio-navigation systems for
system                                    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.
 ---pagebreak---           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.
 ---pagebreak---                                       H
Original  text                             Amended text
                                   Recital 4
Whereas the International Association      Deleted (taken into recital  2a)
of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)
supports the need for a terrestrial
radio-navigation system to meet the
needs of mari tine navigation;
                                   Recital 5
Whereas certain Member States intend      Whereas certain Member States
to participate in one or more              intend to participate in one or
regional agreements on the                more regional agreements on the
establishment of LORAN-C chains           establishment of LORAN-C chains
covering North-West Europe and the        covering North-West Europe and the
North Atlantic, the Mediterranean,        North Atlantic, the Mediterranean,
the Iberian Peninsula and the Baltic;     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)
 ---pagebreak---                       .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             JL   Without prejudice to existing
participate in or Join regional         radio-navigation systems, the
agreements on LORAN-C as far as         Member States shall  participate
necessary to realize the                 in or Join regional agreements
international objectives.               on LORAN-C as far as necessary
                                        to realize the international
                                        object ives.
 ---pagebreak---                                      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      - shall ensure coordination
the Member States participating in       between the Member States
regional agreements with a view to       participating in regional
ensuring compatibility between the       agreements with a view to
LORAN-C chains introduced on the         ensuring compatibility between
regionaI  level ,                        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
 ---pagebreak---                                 ^ik-
satellite systems and the            satellite systems and the
enhancement of the present           enhancement of the present
LORAN-C system,                      LORAN-C system,
                                     - pursue its work with a view to
                                     setting U P 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.
 ---pagebreak---                                      G
                                  Article 3
 In their role aï member or              Within the International
observer within the International        Association of Lighthouse
Association of Lighthouse Authorities    Author i t ies and the Internat ionaI
the Member States and the Commission     Maritime Organization the Member
shall strive to obtain the               States and the Commission shaI I
participation of the greatest            support efforts to set up a
possible number of countries In the      global radio-navigation system
European regional LORAN-C chains with    and shaI I str ive to obtain
purpose of enlarging the coverage of     the participation of the greatest
LORAN-C worldwide in order to            possible number of countries in
improve safety of navigation and         the European regional chains with
protection of *.ie marine environment.   the purpose of enlarging world-wide
                                         coverage in order to improve the
                                         safety of navigation and protection
                                        of the marine environment.
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                     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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