EU and Russia join forces on space

Russia and the EU have signed a co-operation agreement on space technology and activities. The high-level dialogue is expected to give a boost to the Galileo-GLONASS agreement.

Russia, the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed, on 10 March 2006, a co-operation agreement on space. The high-level space dialogue will give a boost to finalisation and implementation of the agreement between GLONASS, the Russian satellite navigation system, and Galileo, the European equivalent currently under development. Both parties are also engaged in co-operation on the development of user applications for the global satellite navigation infrastructure (GNSS). 

An enhanced co-operation with Russia in the space sector “will have a very positive impact on the development of the European Space Programme.” said Commissioner Günter Verheugen. “Working together, using existing synergies will make our space policy more effective.” 

The co-operation includes the creation of permanent working groups to conduct ‘space dialogue’ on issues such as earth observation, satellite communications and access to space. The collaboration could also include joint projects between the space programmes of the ESA, the Russian Federation and the EU’s FP7 research programme.

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