EU and Ukraine conclude Galileo agreement
Negotiations surrounding Ukraine's participation in Europe's satellite navigation system - Galileo - have concluded successfully with the initialling of an agreement by senior representatives from each party. The agreement was approved in Kiev on 3 June by François Lamoureux, Director General for Energy and Transport at the European Commission, and by Oleh Shamshul, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. It provides for cooperative activities on satellite navigation in a range of sectors, including science and technology, industrial manufacturing, service and market development, standardisation and certification. Signature of the agreement will also pave the way for Ukraine to participate fully in the Galileo programme by assuming a direct stake in the Galileo Joint Undertaking, and for the EU to extend the European geostationary navigation overlay service (EGNOS) to the former Soviet republic. Ukraine is one of a group of eight countries in the world with significant technological expertise in space programmes, and has previously developed important global navigation satellite system (GNSS) applications and equipment. Indeed, its space industry is the world's leader in the design and production of launchers and GNSS components. Ukraine is the third country to formally join the Galileo programme after China and Israel. Discussions are also underway with India, Morocco, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, South Korea, Canada, Argentina and Australia.
Countries
Ukraine