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On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), soon to become the EU Space Programme Agency. He was elected by the GSA Administrative Board on 15 September 2020 and met with the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on 12 October 2020.

Mr da Costa, a Portuguese national who has worked in a number of EU countries, joined the GSA as the Galileo Services Programme Manager in March 2017. In this position he was responsible for leading Galileo, the European Union global navigation satellite system, in its service provision phase. He has previously held several senior project management, business development, and institutional account management positions in space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Mr da Costa will now be working on transforming the GSA into the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). He will ensure that its existing activities continue to be successfully delivered whilst also performing new ones required to undertake with the Agency’s new mandate. 

Since its creation in 2004 the GSA has made an unparallel contribution to the EU flagship satellite systems Galileo and EGNOS, which has significantly contributed to Union’s independence and economic growth. Staffed with highly skilled and dedicated personnel, the agency has boosted innovation, fostered entrepreneurship, led the provision of services, and stimulated the EU economy, in particular through ensuring Galileo and EGNOS uptake across a wide range of market segments thanks to high-quality and secure satellite services. With eyes fixed on the future, EUSPA will further build on the work of the GSA, and will take on additional new responsibilities for further components to the EU Space Programme, including activities in Copernicus (the European Earth observation programme), GOVSATCOM (the EU secure satellite communication system). 

Commenting on his new duties da Costa said: ‘’Becoming Executive Director of the Agency means, above all, to lead a team of excellent, dedicated professionals. I’m immensely excited by the opportunity we have to build a successful EUSPA, a key contributor of the EU Space Programme. I’m looking forward to working with all our stakeholders. The task is vast, but I am confident we will be able to play our part, demonstrating to EU citizens what we can do together in EU space activities as GSA/EUSPA.’’

Here you will find a link to a short video interview of Mr da Costa.  

On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA, planned soon to become the EU Space Programme Agency). He was elected by the GSA Administrative Board on 15 September 2020 and met with the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on 12 October 2020.

Mr da Costa, a Portuguese national who has worked in a number of EU countries, joined the GSA as the Galileo Services Programme Manager in March 2017. In this position he was responsible for leading Galileo, the European Union global navigation satellite system, in its service provision phase. He has previously held several senior project management, business development, and institutional account management positions in space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Mr da Costa will now be working on transforming the GSA into the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). He will ensure that its existing activities continue to be successfully delivered whilst also performing new ones required to undertake with the Agency’s new mandate. 

Since its creation in 2004 the GSA has made an unparallel contribution to the EU flagship satellite systems Galileo and EGNOS, which has significantly contributed to Union’s independence and economic growth. Staffed with highly skilled and dedicated personnel, the agency has boosted innovation, fostered entrepreneurship, led the provision of services, and stimulated the EU economy, in particular through ensuring Galileo and EGNOS uptake across a wide range of market segments thanks to high-quality and secure satellite services. With eyes fixed on the future, EUSPA will further build on the work of the GSA, and will take on additional new responsibilities for further components to the EU Space Programme, including activities in Copernicus (the European Earth observation programme), GOVSATCOM (the EU secure satellite communication system). 

Commenting on his new duties da Costa said: ‘’Becoming Executive Director of the Agency means, above all, to lead a team of excellent, dedicated professionals. I’m immensely excited by the opportunity we have to build a successful EUSPA, a key contributor of the EU Space Programme. I’m looking forward to working with all our stakeholders. The task is vast, but I am confident we will be able to play our part, demonstrating to EU citizens what we can do together in EU space activities as GSA/EUSPA.’’

Here you will find a link to a short video interview of Mr da Costa.  

On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), soon to become the EU Space Programme Agency. He was elected by the GSA Administrative Board on 15 September 2020 and met with the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on 12 October 2020.

Mr da Costa, a Portuguese national who has worked in a number of EU countries, joined the GSA as the Galileo Services Programme Manager in March 2017. In this position he was responsible for leading Galileo, the European Union global navigation satellite system, in its service provision phase. He has previously held several senior project management, business development, and institutional account management positions in space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Mr da Costa will now be working on transforming the GSA into the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). He will ensure that its existing activities continue to be successfully delivered whilst also performing new ones required to undertake with the Agency’s new mandate. 

Since its creation in 2004 the GSA has made an unparallel contribution to the EU flagship satellite systems Galileo and EGNOS, which has significantly contributed to Union’s independence and economic growth. Staffed with highly skilled and dedicated personnel, the agency has boosted innovation, fostered entrepreneurship, led the provision of services, and stimulated the EU economy, in particular through ensuring Galileo and EGNOS uptake across a wide range of market segments thanks to high-quality and secure satellite services. With eyes fixed on the future, EUSPA will further build on the work of the GSA, and will take on additional new responsibilities for further components to the EU Space Programme, including activities in Copernicus (the European Earth observation programme), GOVSATCOM (the EU secure satellite communication system). 

Commenting on his new duties da Costa said: ‘’Becoming Executive Director of the Agency means, above all, to lead a team of excellent, dedicated professionals. I’m immensely excited by the opportunity we have to build a successful EUSPA, a key contributor of the EU Space Programme. I’m looking forward to working with all our stakeholders. The task is vast, but I am confident we will be able to play our part, demonstrating to EU citizens what we can do together in EU space activities as GSA/EUSPA.’’

Here you will find a link to a short video interview of Mr da Costa.  

On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA, planned soon to become the EU Space Programme Agency). He was elected by the GSA Administrative Board on 15 September 2020 and met with the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on 12 October 2020.

Mr da Costa, a Portuguese national who has worked in a number of EU countries, joined the GSA as the Galileo Services Programme Manager in March 2017. In this position he was responsible for leading Galileo, the European Union global navigation satellite system, in its service provision phase. He has previously held several senior project management, business development, and institutional account management positions in space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Mr da Costa will now be working on transforming the GSA into the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). He will ensure that its existing activities continue to be successfully delivered whilst also performing new ones required to undertake with the Agency’s new mandate. 

Since its creation in 2004 the GSA has made an unparallel contribution to the EU flagship satellite systems Galileo and EGNOS, which has significantly contributed to Union’s independence and economic growth. Staffed with highly skilled and dedicated personnel, the agency has boosted innovation, fostered entrepreneurship, led the provision of services, and stimulated the EU economy, in particular through ensuring Galileo and EGNOS uptake across a wide range of market segments thanks to high-quality and secure satellite services. With eyes fixed on the future, EUSPA will further build on the work of the GSA, and will take on additional new responsibilities for further components to the EU Space Programme, including activities in Copernicus (the European Earth observation programme), GOVSATCOM (the EU secure satellite communication system). 

Commenting on his new duties da Costa said: ‘’Becoming Executive Director of the Agency means, above all, to lead a team of excellent, dedicated professionals. I’m immensely excited by the opportunity we have to build a successful EUSPA, a key contributor of the EU Space Programme. I’m looking forward to working with all our stakeholders. The task is vast, but I am confident we will be able to play our part, demonstrating to EU citizens what we can do together in EU space activities as GSA/EUSPA.’’

Here you will find a link to a short video interview of Mr da Costa.  

On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA), soon to become the EU Space Programme Agency. He was elected by the GSA Administrative Board on 15 September 2020 and met with the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament on 12 October 2020.

Mr da Costa, a Portuguese national who has worked in a number of EU countries, joined the GSA as the Galileo Services Programme Manager in March 2017. In this position he was responsible for leading Galileo, the European Union global navigation satellite system, in its service provision phase. He has previously held several senior project management, business development, and institutional account management positions in space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D. 

Mr da Costa will now be working on transforming the GSA into the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). He will ensure that its existing activities continue to be successfully delivered whilst also performing new ones required to undertake with the Agency’s new mandate. 

Since its creation in 2004 the GSA has made an unparallel contribution to the EU flagship satellite systems Galileo and EGNOS, which has significantly contributed to Union’s independence and economic growth. Staffed with highly skilled and dedicated personnel, the agency has boosted innovation, fostered entrepreneurship, led the provision of services, and stimulated the EU economy, in particular through ensuring Galileo and EGNOS uptake across a wide range of market segments thanks to high-quality and secure satellite services. With eyes fixed on the future, EUSPA will further build on the work of the GSA, and will take on additional new responsibilities for further components to the EU Space Programme, including activities in Copernicus (the European Earth observation programme), GOVSATCOM (the EU secure satellite communication system). 

Commenting on his new duties da Costa said: ‘’Becoming Executive Director of the Agency means, above all, to lead a team of excellent, dedicated professionals. I’m immensely excited by the opportunity we have to build a successful EUSPA, a key contributor of the EU Space Programme. I’m looking forward to working with all our stakeholders. The task is vast, but I am confident we will be able to play our part, demonstrating to EU citizens what we can do together in EU space activities as GSA/EUSPA.’’

Here you will find a link to a short video interview of Mr da Costa.  

Galileo OS and SAR Service Performance Reports for the second quarter of 2020 (covering April, May and June) have just been published on the European GNSS Service Centre (GSC) web portal.

The Galileo Open Service (OS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) quarterly performance reports provide the latest information on the Galileo OS and SAR/Galileo measured performance statistics with respect to their Minimum Performance Levels (MPLs) (as declared in its respective Galileo Service Definition Documents: OS-SDD and SAR-SDD). 

Quarterly reports provide information to users on several parameters including:

• For Galileo OS: Ranging Performance, Galileo to GPS Time Offset (GGTO) determination performance, Galileo Positioning Performance, and the Timely Publication of NAGUs.

• For SAR/Galileo Enhanced Services: Availability of Forward Link Service (FLS) and Return Link Service (RLS), performance of location probability and accuracy, and RLS service latency.

Learn More: How is Galileo Performance Assessed?

Highlights from Q2-2020 Public Performance Reports:

As in previous periods, Galileo measured OS and SAR Service performance figures comfortably exceed their MPL thresholds, specified in the OS-SDD and SAR-SDD (except for the SAR transponder availability for GSAT-0103 during April, May and June).

Among the main highlights of the Q2-2020 performance reports:

Open Service: 

• Galileo Open Service Ranging Performance: This is measured based on the Availability of the Galileo Single Frequency (SF)/Dual Frequency (DF) Ranging Service [between 96.45% (Signal in Space (SIS) E1, E5b and Dual Frequency combination E1-E5b, April) and 96.77% (SIS E5a and Dual Frequency combination E1-E5a, June)], Per-slot Availability of Healthy Signal in Space for each Galileo operational satellite [low values were observed for GSAT-0103 (81.18% in April and with F/NAV and I/NAV SIS availability of respectively 92.22% and 91.25% during June), GSAT-0210 (with F/NAV SIS availability of 93.61% in April) and GSAT-0203 (with F/NAV and I/NAV SIS availability of respectively 92.87% and 92.84% during May and with I/NAV SIS availability of 93.67% during June)] and the Galileo Signal in Space Ranging Accuracy [for individual space vehicles: worst case value of 0.45 [m] for DF in April and May and 0.75 [m] for SF in May; best case values of 0.14 [m] for DF in June and 0.19 [m] for SF in June].
• Galileo Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) and GST-GPS Time Offset (GGTO) Dissemination and Determination Performance: The Galileo UTC Determination Service Availability reached a monthly value of 100% during the entire quarter, exceeding the MPL target of 87%. Moreover, the GGTO Determination Availability exceeds the MPL target of 80% over the reported months, reaching 97.39% in April and 97.65% in May and June.
• Galileo Positioning Performance: This is measured based on the Availability of the Galileo Position Dilution of Precision and the Positioning Service, and the Galileo measured Positioning Performance.
• Timely Publication of NAGUs (Notice Advisory to Galileo Users): The timeliness requirements for NAGU publication were met both for Planned and Unplanned events (NAGUs related to planned events need to be published at least 24 hours before the event starts, and those related to unplanned events with a delay of up to 72 hours from the detection of the unplanned event). A total number of 6 NAGUs have been published on the GSC web portal in the reported period. If you wish to receive NAGUs automatically, please register to the GSC web portal.

Enhanced SAR/Galileo Service:

• Availability of SAR/Galileo: 
  • Forward Link Service: 99.5% for the reported period (above defined MPLs of 99%).
  • Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminal (MEOLUT) facilities in “Nominal” and “Nominal + Degraded” modes: remain at excellent levels, always above the MPL targets of 95% in “Nominal” and 97.5% in “Nominal + Degraded” modes.
  • Return Link Service: 100% all over the period (MPL set to 95%).
  • SAR Transponders: achieved excellent levels of performance reaching monthly satellite transponder availability of 100% for almost all space vehicles (except for GSAT-0103 in April, May and June).
• Performance of: 
  • Detection Service: monthly values of a valid message detection probability after a single transmitted burst over 99.8%, where the MPL target is 99%.
  • Location Probability: excellent values were achieved, with monthly values higher than 99.1% for a single burst, where the MPL target is 90%, and 99.8% after 12 transmitted bursts (multi-burst), where the MPL target is 98%.
  • Location Accuracy: surpassed the targets with monthly values higher than 99.2% for a single burst and 99.6% for multi-burst transmissions with accuracy better than 5 km, while the MPLs are 90% and 95% respectively.
• Return Link Service: 
  • Delivery Latency within 15 min: 99.97% on average over the reported period for an MPL set to 99%.
  • Reception Probability: 99.99% on average over the reported period for an MPL set to 99%.

For the most up-to-date information on the Galileo system and constellation, visit the GSC website, in particular, the Galileo constellation status section. For an exhaustive description of the MPLs, refer to the SDDs (Programme Reference documents).

If you have any questions on Galileo performance and its Services, do not hesitate to contact the Galileo Help Desk.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

On 12 October 2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), held an exchange of views with Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director-elect of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) on the role of the GSA and his vision for the future of the Agency.

“I understand well the deep commitment of the European Union to Space.” With these words Mr da Costa began his speech to the European Parliament as GSA Executive Director-elect, highlighting the importance of EU Space investments and the services, activities and opportunities these offer. EU Space contributes to the Union’s sovereignty and autonomy while strengthening its role as a global actor. It boosts the economy and is key to addressing current and emerging societal challenges, ranging from climate change to cybersecurity.

The European GNSS Agency is currently responsible for managing the operations, security and service provision of Galileo and EGNOS, the two EU satellite navigation systems. In January 2021, the EU Space Programme is planned to turn a new page with the launch of the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). EUSPA, the successor of the GSA, will be entrusted with a set of additional responsibilities: enhanced tasks on Galileo and EGNOS, the promotion and development of the downstream markets of Copernicus, activities for GOVSATCOM (the EU governmental satellite communication system) and new security accreditation activities. 

‘’I am committed to ensuring that EUSPA becomes a user-driven operational agency for the implementation of the EU Space Programme, contributing to the economic growth, innovation, safety and security of the Union’’ da Costa said.

Expanding on his vision for the future EUSPA, da Costa explained that for an effective and efficient implementation of the EU Space Regulation, EUSPA’s mission should be focused on four points:

• A state-of-the-art, reliable, secure and performing service provision: EUSPA should manage the services efficiently, by relying on a competitive upstream industry and allowing input from new and emerging actors, and ensuring the highest involvement of all Member States. 
• A user and market-orientated EU Agency aimed at increasing the use of space services across a wide range of market segments and increasing the competitiveness of the EU downstream industry including innovators, SMEs and start-ups. To achieve this, EUSPA will listen to user needs when developing, upgrading, and providing services.
• A global reference for space excellence and know-how: EUSPA shall become the global reference for market development, service provision, security and operations and shall make the best usage of the available competencies in the GNSS industry and the related institutional actors such as the European Commission, Member States, the European Space Agency or other relevant organisations. 
• A key contributor to the EU priorities: EUSPA shall contribute to the achievement of the priorities of the Union, increasing the resilience of our economy, contributing to the transition to a green and digital Europe, and enhancing the safety and security of our citizens. 

Da Costa concluded in his opening remarks: ‘’You can count on me to bring all my energy and determination to the leadership of the Agency. You can trust me to build up an Agency that enables a thriving downstream economy in all Member States. You can also be sure about my commitment to build a EUSPA in line with the priorities of the Union.’’ The new EUSPA mission provides for the first time the opportunity to create an integrated EU Space Programme, enabling the development of synergies between navigation (with EGNOS and Galileo), Earth observation (with Copernicus) and telecommunications (with GOVSATCOM). 

Da Costa ended his talk highlighting the importance of the link between the Agency and the European Parliament and its ITRE Committee and his willingness to foster further the cooperation including through regular exchanges on the concrete achievements of the EUSPA. 

You can see the full video here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

On 12 October 2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), held an exchange of views with Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director-elect of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) on the role of the GSA and his vision for the future of the Agency.

“I understand well the deep commitment of the European Union to Space.” With these words Mr da Costa began his speech to the European Parliament as GSA Executive Director-elect, highlighting the importance of EU Space investments and the services, activities and opportunities these offer. EU Space contributes to the Union’s sovereignty and autonomy while strengthening its role as a global actor. It boosts the economy and is key to addressing current and emerging societal challenges, ranging from climate change to cybersecurity.

The European GNSS Agency is currently responsible for managing the operations, security and service provision of Galileo and EGNOS, the two EU satellite navigation systems. In January 2021, the EU Space Programme is planned to turn a new page with the launch of the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). EUSPA, the successor of the GSA, will be entrusted with a set of additional responsibilities: enhanced tasks on Galileo and EGNOS, the promotion and development of the downstream markets of Copernicus, activities for GOVSATCOM (the EU governmental satellite communication system) and new security accreditation activities. 

‘’I am committed to ensuring that EUSPA becomes a user-driven operational agency for the implementation of the EU Space Programme, contributing to the economic growth, innovation, safety and security of the Union’’ da Costa said.

Expanding on his vision for the future EUSPA, da Costa explained that for an effective and efficient implementation of the EU Space Regulation, EUSPA’s mission should be focused on four points:

• A state-of-the-art, reliable, secure and performing service provision: EUSPA should manage the services efficiently, by relying on a competitive upstream industry and allowing input from new and emerging actors, and ensuring the highest involvement of all Member States. 
• A user and market-orientated EU Agency aimed at increasing the use of space services across a wide range of market segments and increasing the competitiveness of the EU downstream industry including innovators, SMEs and start-ups. To achieve this, EUSPA will listen to user needs when developing, upgrading, and providing services.
• A global reference for space excellence and know-how: EUSPA shall become the global reference for market development, service provision, security and operations and shall make the best usage of the available competencies in the GNSS industry and the related institutional actors such as the European Commission, Member States, the European Space Agency or other relevant organisations. 
• A key contributor to the EU priorities: EUSPA shall contribute to the achievement of the priorities of the Union, increasing the resilience of our economy, contributing to the transition to a green and digital Europe, and enhancing the safety and security of our citizens. 

Da Costa concluded in his opening remarks: ‘’You can count on me to bring all my energy and determination to the leadership of the Agency. You can trust me to build up an Agency that enables a thriving downstream economy in all Member States. You can also be sure about my commitment to build a EUSPA in line with the priorities of the Union.’’ The new EUSPA mission provides for the first time the opportunity to create an integrated EU Space Programme, enabling the development of synergies between navigation (with EGNOS and Galileo), Earth observation (with Copernicus) and telecommunications (with GOVSATCOM). 

Da Costa ended his talk highlighting the importance of the link between the Agency and the European Parliament and its ITRE Committee and his willingness to foster further the cooperation including through regular exchanges on the concrete achievements of the EUSPA. 

You can see the full video here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

On 12 October 2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), held an exchange of views with Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director-elect of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) on the role of the GSA and his vision for the future of the Agency.

“I understand well the deep commitment of the European Union to Space.” With these words Mr da Costa began his speech to the European Parliament as GSA Executive Director-elect, highlighting the importance of EU Space investments and the services, activities and opportunities these offer. EU Space contributes to the Union’s sovereignty and autonomy while strengthening its role as a global actor. It boosts the economy and is key to addressing current and emerging societal challenges, ranging from climate change to cybersecurity.

The European GNSS Agency is currently responsible for managing the operations, security and service provision of Galileo and EGNOS, the two EU satellite navigation systems. In January 2021, the EU Space Programme is planned to turn a new page with the launch of the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). EUSPA, the successor of the GSA, will be entrusted with a set of additional responsibilities: enhanced tasks on Galileo and EGNOS, the promotion and development of the downstream markets of Copernicus, activities for GOVSATCOM (the EU governmental satellite communication system) and new security accreditation activities. 

‘’I am committed to ensuring that EUSPA becomes a user-driven operational agency for the implementation of the EU Space Programme, contributing to the economic growth, innovation, safety and security of the Union’’ da Costa said.

Expanding on his vision for the future EUSPA, da Costa explained that for an effective and efficient implementation of the EU Space Regulation, EUSPA’s mission should be focused on four points:

• A state-of-the-art, reliable, secure and performing service provision: EUSPA should manage the services efficiently, by relying on a competitive upstream industry and allowing input from new and emerging actors, and ensuring the highest involvement of all Member States. 
• A user and market-orientated EU Agency aimed at increasing the use of space services across a wide range of market segments and increasing the competitiveness of the EU downstream industry including innovators, SMEs and start-ups. To achieve this, EUSPA will listen to user needs when developing, upgrading, and providing services.
• A global reference for space excellence and intelligence: EUSPA shall become the global reference for market development, service provision, security and operations and shall make the best usage of the available competencies in the GNSS industry and the related institutional actors such as the European Commission, Member States, the European Space Agency or other relevant organisations. 
• A key contributor to the EU priorities: EUSPA shall contribute to the achievement of the priorities of the Union, increasing the resilience of our economy, contributing to the transition to a green and digital Europe, and enhancing the safety and security of our citizens. 

Da Costa concluded in his opening remarks: ‘’You can count on me to bring all my energy and determination to the leadership of the Agency. You can trust me to build up an Agency that enables a thriving downstream economy in all Member States. You can also be sure about my commitment to build a EUSPA in line with the priorities of the Union.’’ The new EUSPA mission provides for the first time the opportunity to create an integrated EU Space Programme, enabling the development of synergies between navigation (with EGNOS and Galileo), Earth observation (with Copernicus) and telecommunications (with GOVSATCOM). 

Da Costa ended his talk highlighting the importance of the link between the Agency and the European Parliament and its ITRE Committee and his willingness to foster further the cooperation including through regular exchanges on the concrete achievements of the EUSPA. 

You can see the full video here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

On 12 October 2020, the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), held an exchange of views with Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director-elect of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) on the role of the GSA and his vision for the future of the Agency.

“I understand well the deep commitment of the European Union to Space.” With these words Mr da Costa began his speech to the European Parliament as GSA Executive Director-elect, highlighting the importance of EU Space investments and the services, activities and opportunities these offer. EU Space contributes to the Union’s sovereignty and autonomy while strengthening its role as a global actor. It boosts the economy and is key to addressing current and emerging societal challenges, ranging from climate change to cybersecurity.

The European GNSS Agency is currently responsible for managing the operations, security and service provision of Galileo and EGNOS, the two EU satellite navigation systems. In January 2021, the EU Space Programme is planned to turn a new page with the launch of the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). EUSPA, the successor of the GSA, will be entrusted with a set of additional responsibilities: enhanced tasks on Galileo and EGNOS, the promotion and development of the downstream markets of Copernicus, activities for GOVSATCOM (the EU governmental satellite communication system) and new security accreditation activities. 

''I am committed to ensuring that EUSPA becomes a user-driven operational agency for the implementation of the EU Space Programme, contributing to the economic growth, innovation, safety and security of the Union’’ da Costa said.

Expanding on his vision for the future EUSPA, da Costa explained that for an effective and efficient implementation of the EU Space Regulation, EUSPA’s mission should be focused on four points:

• A state-of-the-art, reliable, secure and performing service provision: EUSPA should manage the services efficiently, by relying on a competitive upstream industry and allowing input from new and emerging actors, and ensuring the highest involvement of all Member States. 
• A user and market-orientated EU Agency aimed at increasing the use of space services across a wide range of market segments and increasing the competitiveness of the EU downstream industry including innovators, SMEs and start-ups. To achieve this, EUSPA will listen to user needs when developing, upgrading, and providing services.
• A global reference for space excellence and know-how: EUSPA shall become the global reference for market development, service provision, security and operations and shall make the best usage of the available competencies in the GNSS industry and the related institutional actors such as the European Commission, Member States, the European Space Agency or other relevant organisations. 
• A key contributor to the EU priorities: EUSPA shall contribute to the achievement of the priorities of the Union, increasing the resilience of our economy, contributing to the transition to a green and digital Europe, and enhancing the safety and security of our citizens. 

Da Costa concluded in his opening remarks: ‘’You can count on me to bring all my energy and determination to the leadership of the Agency. You can trust me to build up an Agency that enables a thriving downstream economy in all Member States. You can also be sure about my commitment to build a EUSPA in line with the priorities of the Union.’’ The new EUSPA mission provides for the first time the opportunity to create an integrated EU Space Programme, enabling the development of synergies between navigation (with EGNOS and Galileo), Earth observation (with Copernicus) and telecommunications (with GOVSATCOM). 

Da Costa ended his talk highlighting the importance of the link between the Agency and the European Parliament and its ITRE Committee and his willingness to foster further the cooperation including through regular exchanges on the concrete achievements of the EUSPA. 

You can see the full video here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).