EU cooperation with Russia in the field of satellite navigation
During a visit to the Russian Space Agency in Moscow, on 21 October 1996, Mrs. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, called for the EU and Russia to explore together the possibility of joint development of future applications in the field of navigation by satellite. The Commissioner stressed the need for the EU to be a part of the navigation by satellite market, and involved in the definition and establishment of any future world system. This market is expected to be worth ECU 6 billion for receivers alone by the year 2000. The savings to be made by European transporters are also a major reason for European involvement in the field, with the possibility of worldwide savings for transporters of ECU 20 billion per year following widespread application of navigation by satellite technology. Mrs. Cresson called for the EU to investigate, with Russia, the possibility of developing satellite navigation technology jointly, in particular based on the GLONASS system developed by the Russians. According to the Commissioner, this cooperation should go further than simply using the GLONASS signals, by involving Russian and European specialists in joint projects.
Countries
Russia