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GSA mission and strategic Objectives
An official European Union regulatory authority, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) manages public interests related to European GNSS programmes.
GSA strategic objectives include the achievement of a fully operational GALILEO system. This includes the laying of foundations for a fully sustainable and economically viable system and its security.
Moreover, GSA's key stated objective is to make GALILEO not just a functioning system but also the world's leading satellite navigation system for civilian applications.
Vision
Satellite radionavigation has made major inroads in many realms of society, impacting in increasingly profound ways on business, public services and consumer behaviour. Along with delivering economic benefits to innovative service providers and related businesses, satellite radionavigation devices, now integrated within a wide variety of vehicles and transport systems, has changed in fundamental ways how we manage the mobility, safety and security of people and goods.
For users in the general public, the next logical development will be the integration of accurate positioning devices into every mobile telephone or similar handheld device, making possible a deep transformation of the way society deals with the dimensions of time and space.
By developing a new generation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Europe is laying the foundations for new high-technology industry development, job creation and economic growth. With Europe in the driving seat, independent and self-sustaining, GALILEO has the potential to become a key part of the global radionavigation positioning system of the future.
History
The GSA was established as a Community Agency on 12 July 2004, by Council Regulation (EC) 1321/2004, status amended in 2006 by Council Regulation (EC) No 1942/2006.
The European Council took this important step because of what it saw as the strategic nature of European satellite positioning and navigation programmes, which include both EGNOS and GALILEO, and the need to ensure that essential public interests in this field are adequately defended and represented.
With Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010, which entered into force on 9 November 2010, the Regulation (EC) 1942/2004 was repealed and references to it are to be construed as references to Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010. Following recital 5 of Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010 the GSA is no longer to be called European GNSS Supervisory Authority but European GNSS Agency. According to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010 any measures adopted on the basis of Regulation (EC) 1942/2004 remain valid. Taking this into account, the GSA was restructured into the European GNSS Agency, ensuring the continuity of its activities.
The GSA's predecessor, the GALILEO Joint Undertaking (GJU) was set up in May 2002 by the European Community and the European Space Agency to manage the development phase of the GALILEO Programme. The GSA, as “European GNSS Supervisory Authority”, officially took over all tasks previously assigned to the GJU on 1 January 2007 which are continued by the GSA as “European GNSS Agency” within the scope of Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010.
Specific tasks and responsibilities
According to European Council Regulations, the GSA has been entrusted with the following specific tasks and responsibilities:
a) With regard to the security of the programmes, and without prejudice to Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010, the GSA:
- ensures security accreditation; and to that effect initiates and monitors the implementation of security procedures and performs of system security audits;
- ensures the operation of the Galileo security centre, implemented in accordance with decisions taken pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010 and the instructions provided under Joint Action 2004/552/CFSP;
- sets up the Security Accreditation Board (SAB) within the GSA ensure its secretariat;
- provides all required support to the SAB according to the work plan (management plan) approved by the SAB;
- through the SAB sets up, coordinates and chairs the work of the Galileo Security Accreditation Panel as special subordinate body of the SAB;
- through the SAB sets up, coordinates and chairs the work of the Crypto Distribution Authority (CDA) as special subordinate body of the SAB;
- through the SAB defines the Flight Key Cell Operations and implements them for the IOV launches;
- through the SAB participates in the Galileo procurement reviews on accreditation-related matters;
- through the SAB provides supports to the Security Accreditation Strategy (SAS)(1);
- through the SAB reviews the technical documents needed for Galileo security accreditation at system, segment and element level;
- through the SAB assesses and reviews the security of the system design and system deployment and associated risks and produce the respective accreditation reports;
- through the SAB prepares the site security strategy and conduct site security accreditation inspections;
- through the SAB defines and prepares independent testing activities regarding the security of the Galileo system;
- through the SAB participates in and analyses results of security audit (statements of compliance) at system, site and component level;
- through the SAB defines the PRS receiver accreditation framework and PRS manufacturer accreditation;
- through the SAB prepares the Galileo Security Monitoring Center (GSMC) initial operations;
- through the SAB follows-up the preparation of the hosting facilities for the GSMC;
- through the SAB follows-up the procurement of the hosting facilities for the GSMC undertaken by ESA;
- through the SAB follows-up GSMC technical definition and procurement undertaken by ESA;
- maintains the Galileo System specific Security Requirements Statements (SSRS) Dynamical Object-Oriented Requirements Systems (DOORS) database for security accreditation purposes (if requested by the Commission);
- supports updating of the Galileo SSRS;
- supports updating of GNSS (Galileo and EGNOS) security policies, threats and vulnerabilities analysis and risk assessment;
- supports the establishment of any relevant EGNOS security-related requirements;
- supports the updating of specific system security documentation.
- issues calls for tenders, selects, negotiates and awards contracts supporting the implementation of the PRS Pilot Project, in accordance with the Commission guidelines and in accordance with the working arrangement with the Commission;
- provides expertise and support to the GNSS Security Board Working Group PRS (WG-PRS), especially regarding the definition of guidelines and rules for the management of PRS in EU Member States and the definition and implementation of the PRS implementation plan;
- develops cost studies, concepts of low cost receivers, supports the development of demonstrators or PRS receivers (in particular fitting the purpose of trials foreseen in the PRS Pilot Project) and proposes a standardisation strategy and process for the following years;
- supports the Commission in preparing and updating the Galileo Control Regime as follow-up of GSA's 2010 activities on the running of the GNSS Security Board Task Force Control;
- Identifies the tools and methods that can be used to actually enforce the European GNSS Technology Control Regime;
- supports the Commission on an implementation plan for any Control Regime by consolidating current best practice and the impact of the Control regime on current licensing practice and supports the Commission for the initial implementation of the European GNSS technology control regime;
- provides a transverse support to the Commission in the management of the GNSS Security Board and associated Working Groups;
- establishes and manages a Documentation Management System (DMS) ensuring a coordination and update of the GNSS Security Board documentation, the Systems Security Accreditation documentation and of the PRS User Segment documentation;
b) The GSA contributes to the preparation of the commercialisation of the European GNSS, including the necessary market analysis by promoting the market take-up of the systems in order to reap the maximum benefit from the systems. This task, as defined by the Commission guidelines, can be grouped as three main axes of activity:
- supporting the exploitation and commercialisation of EGNOS and Galileo;
- understanding the potential and main trends of the GNSS market, i.e. assessing the environment in which satellite navigation applications can develop, including downstream markets, assessing the various options for improving the dynamics of the market (such as a market observatory, providing information and assistance tools for potential users, promoting industry and user fora), and making suitable recommendations to the Commission; and
- contributing to the development of the market with actions to encourage the take-up of European GNSS services, leveraging on FP7 application projects with a particular focus on supporting SMEs and promotional initiatives.
c) The GSA carries out priority actions derived from the EGNOS market entry approach, in the context of the Commission "Application Action Plan," including: developing and presenting cost-benefit analyses, disseminating trial results, co-marketing with players in the value chain, building market awareness and supporting promotional activities.
d) The GSA supports the Commission under its coordination and detail in its request on:
- the delivery of specific activities planned in the GNSS;
- the set up, maintenance and regular upgrade of a detailed monitoring system that will periodically report (every 6 months) on some key market figures that the GNSS APPAP is targeting(2); on the status of the execution of the 24 actions of the GNSS APPAP, their impacts and related key performance indicators.
e) The GSA specifically supports the marketing of EGNOS
- in the road segment by promoting the system and its services with the focus on developing a convincing value proposition in different market sub-segments, identified as the most promising from "ability to compete" and "time to market" point of views;
- in Precision Agriculture by continuing the promotion of EGNOS with the goal to increase the market share, reaching 70% by 2012;
- by focussing additional actions to support the adoption of EGNOS in other sub-segments in the High Precision domain (e.g. thematic mapping and surveying applications).
f) For the marketing of EGNOS, the GSA tasks further include
- the continuation of actions deriving from the EGNOS market entry strategy;
- promoting the utilisation of the EGNOS open signal and safety-of-life service including stepping up EGNOS marketing activities for aviation with a view to publication of EGNOS landing procedures in major European countries by the end of 2011;
- specification and implementation of the EGNOS market adoption plan for road;
- contributions to the definition and implementation the EDAS service model and related promotion activities;
- organisation of EGNOS marketing communication initiatives;
- continuation of actions to improve the EGNOS Applications Development portal;
- definition of the market entry approach for other market segments on the basis of promising prospects for EGNOS utilisation;
- contributions to the implementation of the GNSS APPAP;
- monitoring the impact of actions, tracking market indicators and continuation of actions deriving from the EGNOS market entry strategy.
g) The GSA further acts as a source of GNSS market information for the Commission, following the Market Monitoring and Forecasting process implementation in 2010.
h) The GSA regularly refines and improves the Market Monitoring and Forecasting process(3), in order to reflect changes in the market and in technology.
i) The GSA promotes new applications of the European satellite navigation systems.
j) As regards new applications, the GSA continues to follow closely the development of the market in general and tries to pre-empt (or at least reduce) market imperfections, in line with the strategy and methodology developed in 2008 and 2009. This includes
- leveraging on FP7 projects and complementary interaction with industry and potential users to promote the development of new applications;
- providing information and assistance to potential users and investors in new applications;
- promotion of industry and user fora in priority market segments;
- supporting the Commission in promoting the European GNSS Programmes.
k) The GSA keeps up and evolves the virtual library known as GKMF for limited public access through the Internet to information on the European GNSS systems and results of the research and development projects.
l) The GSA will also accomplish other tasks that are entrusted or may in the future be entrusted to it by the Commission, in accordance with Article 54(2)(b) of the Financial Regulation, addressing specific issues linked to the programmes, including:
- promoting applications and services in the satellite navigation market;
- activities to support SMEs: communication and information on GNSS programmes, improving access to financing instruments and specific support to SMEs via a voucher scheme;
- ensuring that the components of the systems are certified by the appropriate, duly authorised, certification bodies;
- support on the Pilot Project for the Public Regulated Service (P3RS) I and II;
- helping to set up the scheme, supervise operations and organise events and related communications management of the operational aspects of an SME support programme to disseminate information on European satellite navigation systems and promote their adoption;
- management and close-out the FP7 1st call and FP7 2nd call projects;
- the launch and management of approximately 30 satellite navigation application related projects under the FP7 3rd call (from preparation of the publication to the signature of grant agreements and contracts);
- the launch and management of security related projects under FP7 3rd call;
For the year 2011 the GSA has assigned priority to the following tasks:
Security
Security accreditation
- Authorisation to Launch (ATL1, mid 2011)
- IOV Start Endorsement (second half of 2011).
- System Interim Approval to Operate (IATO) mid 2012.
- Initialisation and support to the Crypto Design Authority and to the flight key cell.
- Organisation, chair and secretary of the Galileo Security Accreditation Panel (GSAP).
GSMC
- Preparation of the hosting facilities for the GSMC.
- Expertise support for the GSMC Preliminary and Critical Design Review (PDR and CDR).
- Expertise support for and review of GSMC hosting sites deployment.
- Recruitment and training of GSMC staff.
Support to PRS service(4)
- Assessment of GSMC connections with User (National) infrastructure.
- PRS Pilot Project implementation.
- Preparation of the critical elements of the PRS user segment so that PRS can be used as soon as Galileo is operational.
- Support to the work on the PRS User Segment, by performing market researches in the field of receivers R&D and application areas of homeland security, emergency services, critical infrastructure and defence.
- Definition of a global PRS User Segment Technological Roadmap.
Market Development
Contribution to the preparation of the commercialisation of the systems
- Promotion of EGNOS.
- Marketing of EGNOS in three priority segments: aviation, road and high precision (agriculture).
- Implementation of the necessary service elements for EDAS and for the most promising user communities.
- Support for the Commission on preparing the Galileo exploitation phase.
- Preparation of the market entry of Galileo.
R&D
- Management of the portfolio of projects from the 1st and 2nd FP7 calls including the dissemination of the results.
- Publication, evaluation, selection, negotiation and award of FP7 3rd call projects.
Financial statements
Financial year 2006
Financial year 2007
Financial year 2008
Financial year 2009
1: Article 10 (e) of the new GSA Regulation
2: As described in the Commission communication COM(2010)308 of 14.06.2010 to the Council and Parliament
3: Provides reliable GNSS market information and revenues projections, covering global GNSS market, Galileo and EGNOS contribution and indirect public benefits.
4: Support to the Commission within a working arrangement to be agreed, in particular regarding the PRS activities; it shall involve WG PRS.
