Galileo — access to the public regulated service

SUMMARY OF:

Decision No 1104/2011/EU on the rules for access to the public regulated service provided by the global navigation satellite system established under the Galileo programme

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It sets out the rules for accessing the public regulated service provided by the global navigation satellite system established under the Galileo programme.

KEY POINTS

Galileo is one of the flagship programmes of the European Union (EU) space programme governed by Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (see summary).

Galileo public regulated service

Public regulated service (PRS) is 1 of 4 high-performance services provided through the Galileo programme.
It is a secure and encrypted service for sensitive applications, which must remain operational even in crisis situations when other services may be interrupted.
Access to the PRS is restricted to authorised users, mainly public authorities, such as the police, authorities responsible for border controls or authorities responsible for civil protection.

Access

EU Member States, the Council, the European Commission and the European External Action Service have the right to unlimited and uninterrupted access to the PRS worldwide.
Each Member State, institution or service can decide for itself whether to use the PRS within their respective competences.
Non-EU countries or international organisations can participate in PRS if they reach an agreement with the EU on the security of information and a separate agreement laying down terms and conditions for access.

National authority

Member States wishing to use the PRS or manufacture PRS receivers must designate a competent PRS authority to manage and monitor final users and the manufacture of PRS receivers in accordance with common minimum standards.
The Commission can adopt delegated acts under this decision, for example, to set these common minimum standards.

Accreditation

An accreditation process is required for the manufacture of PRS receivers. The body manufacturing the receivers must be authorised by the Security Accreditation Board and comply with its decisions.
Competent PRS authorities must continuously monitor the compliance of the manufacturing body with the aforementioned authorisation requirement and the board’s decisions, and with specific technical requirements stemming from the common minimum standards.

Evaluation and report

Within 2 years of the PRS being declared operational, the Commission must report to the European Parliament and the Council on the adequate functioning and appropriateness of the rules established for access to the PRS and, if necessary, propose amendments to this decision.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 5 November 2011.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

The Galileo public regulated service (European Union Agency for the Space Programme).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Decision No 1104/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the rules for access to the public regulated service provided by the global navigation satellite system established under the Galileo programme (OJ L 287, 4.11.2011, pp. 1-8)