Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)

 

SUMMARY OF:

Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) on developing satellite navigation and providing associated services in ASECNA’s area of competence for the benefit of civil aviation

Decision (EU) 2018/1603 concluding on behalf of the EU of the Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)

Decision (EU) 2016/2234 on the signing on behalf of EU of the Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND DECISIONS?

• The agreement aims to use the expertise of European satellite navigation programmes to help the 17 African member countries of the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) develop their own facilities and systems.
• Decision (EU) 2016/2234 and Decision (EU) 2018/1603 mark respectively the EU’s signing and approval of the agreement.

KEY POINTS

The agreement applies the following principles:

• mutual advantage, balancing rights and obligations;
• possibility of participating in each other’s activities;
• timely exchange of all relevant information;
• protection of intellectual property rights.

The cooperation covers:

• setting up and operating the SBAS- (satellite-based augmentation systems) ASECNA system;
• general promotion in Africa of satellite navigation services and specifics, such as radio spectrum, standards, safety, R&D, communication and staff exchanges.

The EU:

• may delegate some tasks to the European global navigation satellite system (GNSS) Agency or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency;
• supports cooperation and partnership between ASECNA and European programmes, such as the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the European global satellite-based navigation system (Galileo) and the European Space Agency;
• helps ASECNA design, establish, certify and operate the new system, including the development of its basic architecture, Ranging Integrity Monitoring Systems (RIMS), control stations, data dissemination services and human resources management.

The EU and ASECNA:

• consult each other on the EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) and SBAS-ASECNA service areas, especially on interoperability and responsibility, to avoid operational problems;
• make available to each other free of charge all their intellectual property rights, listing these in an up to date register;
• promote use of the Galileo programme in Africa;
• cooperate on radio frequency spectrum management by the International Telecommunication Union;
• seek a joint approach to standardisation and satellite navigation systems in international organisations and associations;
• take measures to ensure the continuity, security and safety of satellite navigation services;
• conduct joint R&D and communication and promotion activities for their respective programmes;
• regularly exchange information and consult each other quickly when requested;
• are not responsible for any liabilities linked to the other’s systems.

ASECNA covers the cost of the SBAS-ASECNA system, but is eligible for EU cooperation and development funds.

A joint committee, the GNSS EU/ASECNA committee, with representatives from each partner, is responsible for management and correct implementation of the agreement.

Disputes are settled by arbitration and either party may terminate the agreement with 6 months’ notice.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The agreement entered into force on 1 November 2018.

BACKGROUND

ASECNA, the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, is an international public organisation with 17 African members and France. Created in 1959, its main mission is to provide air navigation and aeronautical information and meteorology services within a single airspace of more than 16 million square kilometres.

For more information, see:

• SBAS Implementation in the regions ACAC and ASECNA (European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) on the development of satellite navigation and the provision of associated services in ASECNA’s area of competence for the benefit of civil aviation (OJ L 268, 26.10.2018, pp. 3-15)

Council Decision (EU) 2018/1603 of 18 September 2018 on the conclusion on behalf of the Union of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) on the development of satellite navigation and the provision of associated services in ASECNA’s area of competence for the benefit of civil aviation (OJ L 268, 26.10.2018, pp. 1-2)

Council Decision (EU) 2016/2234 of 21 November 2016 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) on the development of satellite navigation and the provision of associated services in ASECNA’s area of competence for the benefit of civil aviation (OJ L 337, 13.12.2016, pp. 1-2)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Information relating to the entry into force of the ‘Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) on the development of satellite navigation and the provision of associated services in ASECNA’s area of competence for the benefit of civil aviation’ (OJ L 292, 19.11.2018, p. 1)

Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (OJ L 212, 22.8.2018, pp. 1-122)

Regulation (EU) No 1285/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 1-24)

Regulation (EU) No 912/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 setting up the European GNSS Agency, repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio navigation programmes and amending Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 276, 20.10.2010, pp. 11-21)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 912/2010 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 10.09.2020