Brussels, Belgium – Government leaders meeting in the EU-Ukraine Summit have decided to extend the Ukraine-EU partnership to cover Europe’s satellite radionavigation programme GALILEO. The agreement was signed today in Kiev by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov for Ukraine, by Prime Minister Tony Blair for the EU Presidency and by President José Manuel Barroso for the European Commission. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of transport, noted: “Ukraine is one of the few countries that has developed a wide expertise in global satellite positioning technologies and its participation is an important step for the development of GALILEO as an international programme”.

The Galileo agreement signed today sets the framework for co-operation in satellite navigation in a wide range of sectors, particularly in science and technology, industrial manufacturing, service and market development, as well as standardisation, frequency and certification. It also contains references to the extension of EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) to Ukraine and the participation of the country in the Galileo management structures. Indeed, Ukraine’s geographical location gives the country a particular advantage to link up to the EGNOS services.

Ukraine is one of the eight countries within the world space community with significant technological knowledge on space programmes and important achievements on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) applications, equipment, user segment and regional technology. The Ukrainian authorities consider introducing GNSS technology in various modes of transport.

The Galileo agreement with Ukraine confirms the European Union’s ambition to further stimulate international cooperation. Ukraine is the third country having signed a cooperation agreement in the GALILEO programme after China and Israel. Talks have also been concluded with India and Morocco while discussions are very advanced with South Korea, Norway and Argentina. The ever growing interest of third countries to participate in the GALILEO programme represents a big boost for the GNSS market, which is potentially considerable: 3 billion receivers and revenues of some €275 billion per year by 2020 worldwide, and the creation of more than 150 000 highly qualified jobs in Europe alone.

For more information about GALILEO, please visit:
europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/galileo
www.esa.int/export/esaSA/navigation.html

www.galileoju.com