Israel, EU Sign Galileo Satellite Accord

LONDON, July 19/Satnews Daily/ -- Israel and the European Union have signed an agreement to cooperate on the European satellite radio navigation program Galileo, the EU said in a press statement.

Officials said Israel and the EU reached final approval of Galileo on July 13 in a ceremony in Brussels.

The agreement also provides cooperation on satellite navigation and timing in a wide range of sectors, notably science and technology, industrial manufacturing, service and market development, as well as standardization, frequencies and certification.

"This is a very important step for the development of Galileo as an international program and its future use worldwide," European Commission Vice President Loyola de Palacio said.

Officials said Israel and the EU completed six months of what they termed intensive negotiations and reached agreement in record time. Galileo was meant to include 30 satellites and scheduled to begin operating in 2008.

Galileo, a European version of the already existing US Global Positioning System, will become operational in 2008. The system can be used in precision positioning in engineering projects as well as guiding cars and ships.