Ukraine will enter the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite navigation system.
On 27 November, European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani and Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Oleksandr Vylkul signed a Joint Statement in Brussels declaring both sides' intention to include the Ukrainian territory in the coverage of EGNOS.
According to the Commission, the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Agreement in the field of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), concluded in November 2013, will be a win-win arrangement for both sides. It will increase the robustness of the EGNOS performances in the Eastern part of the EU and will allow the provision of the services over Ukraine.
The utilisation of EGNOS services in Ukraine is also contributing to the establishment of a Single European Transport Area. The adoption of EGNOS by Ukraine is contributing to the defragmentation of aviation navigation services across the European continent, therefore helping the establishment of a Single European Sky.
European Commissioner for Industry, Antonio Tajani said about the EU Ukraine agreement. “I welcome Ukraine on board of this European flagship initiative. This co-operation will provide better results of the EGNOS/Galileo navigation services and will also open up a series of business opportunities for SMEs both from Ukraine and the EU. The full benefits of what we are offering in this key strategic sector will however only be available through the signature of the Association Agreement including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as it is precisely this that would further enhance industrial cooperation and offer to Ukraine’s space industry full access to the EU markets.”