Satellite navigation programmes EGNOS and Galileo: implementation of the deployment and commercial operating phases 2008-2013. GNSS Regulation

 The committee adopted the report by Etelka BARSI-PATAKY (EPP-ED, HU) broadly approving the proposal under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure, subject to a number of amendments:

- it was important to specify the time-frame for the different phases of the programme, i.e. the deployment phase (2006-2010) and the commercial operating phase (2008 onwards);

- it should be made clear that the figure of EUR 1 billion for the financial framework was indicative, pending a decision on the financial perspective. Moreover, the reference amount should be set at 2004 prices;

- taking into account the specific nature of the programme, especially the fact that it was a public-private partnership, the Community would probably have to give financial guarantees in excess of the budgetary allocation. These commitments should therefore be subject to budgetary approval by Parliament and Council;

- since the programme could prove lucrative, a profit-sharing mechanism should be set up to enable the Community contribution to be repaid;

- ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights and licences should stay with the Supervisory Authority, but the revenues generated by the exploitation of these rights could form the income of the concession holder;

- Parliament should have observer status on the Administrative Board of the Supervisory Authority;

- the amount of each annual subsidy should be decided in the framework of the EU budgetary procedure and not on the basis of the work programme of the Supervisory Authority, as stated in the proposal;

- to enable Parliament to monitor the implementation of the programme and fulfil its budgetary role, the Commission should report to Parliament and Council every year on the implementation of the programme, when presenting the preliminary draft budget, and a mid-term review should be carried out in 2007.