Malta aiming high with bid to host EU satellite agency

Malta has formally put forward its name to host one of the most technologically advanced EU agencies, to be known as the Galileo Supervisory Authority.

This new agency, already functioning temporarily from Brussels, will control the new EU satellite system known as Galileo, which is scheduled to come on stream in 2008. Although defined differently, Galileo is the EU's response to the US Global Positioning System (GPS) which currently holds a worldwide monopoly.

A spokesman for the European Commission confirmed that the Commission a few weeks ago received a formal application from Malta to host the seat of this agency.

Malta will be competing with quite a number of other member states vying to get this prestigious agency to their countries, the spokesman added.

Apart from Malta, another eight member states have already filed their applications. These are Slovenia and the Czech Republic from the new member states and Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Ireland from the old member states. Belgium is also expected to submit its application shortly.

The decision on where an agency is to be hosted is taken by the EU Council, representing the governments of the member states. Normally, the decision, expected to be taken by the end of this year, is reached following intense lobbying by the candidate countries. Commission sources said that although there is nothing formally or legally binding, it is understood that all the new agencies in the coming years will be placed in one of the new member states. Currently only one EU agency, Frontex, is based in a new member state and the EU wishes to have a "fair distribution".

This is the second time since its accession that Malta is competing to host an EU agency. The first attempt was to host the border control agency, Frontex, but the final decision favoured Warsaw.

Known officially as the GNNS-Galileo Supervisory Authority, the agency's main function will be to manage the European satellite navigation programmes and control the use of the funds allocated to them. The agency will also act as the licensing authority vis-à-vis the private concession holder responsible for implementing and managing the Galileo deployment and effectively be the owner of all the tangible and intangible assets created or developed under the Galileo programme.

According to the Commission, the Galileo system will provide autonomous navigation and positioning services and at the same time be interoperable with the GPS navigation system. A user will be able to take a position with the same receiver from any of the satellites in any combination.

The fully deployed Galileo system will consist of 30 satellites and the associated ground infrastructure.