Council Decision (EU) 2024/2709 of 10 October 2024 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the United States of America setting forth security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from United States’ territory

What it is

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, an agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the United States of America, of the other part, setting forth Security Procedures for the Launch of Galileo Satellites from U.S. territory. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: following the unilateral withdrawal of Russian personnel from the Guiana Space Centre and the cancellation of two Soyuz launches in April and September 2022 as well as the announced delay of Ariane-6, the EU had to find alternatives to resume urgently the launches of Galileo satellites in order to ensure the proper operation of the Galileo system which is part of the Union Space Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Union Space Programme Regulation’). After conducting technical feasibility studies on other available launch vehicles, the Commission concluded that the only launch vehicles compatible with Galileo satellites are provided by manufacturers in the United States. The European Parliament adopted by 582 votes to 16, with 17 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the United States of America setting forth security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from United States’ territory. Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement. As a reminder, the cancellation of two Soyuz launches from the Guiana Space Centre in April and September 2022 and the announced delay of Ariane-6 necessitate that the Union finds alternatives in order to resume urgently the launches of Galileo satellites. This is critical to ensure the proper operation of the Galileo system, which is part of the Union Space Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Regulation on the Union Space Programme). The Union has a longstanding cooperation with the United States on satellite navigation. The agreement on the promotion, provision and use of Galileo and GPS satellite-based navigation systems and related applications between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United States of America , of the other part entered into force on 12 December 2011. On 23 November 2023, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on behalf of the Union with a view to concluding an agreement between the Union and the United States laying down security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from United States’ territory. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The agreement between the European Union and the Government of the United States of America on the security of classified information will apply to EU classified information provided to the United States.

Official title: Council Decision (EU) 2024/2709 of 10 October 2024 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the United States of America setting forth security procedures for the launch of Galileo satellites from United States’ territory