EGNOS is part of the new navigation system for Europe. Developed by the European Space Agency, it has already been used to track cyclists in the Tour de France, and as of October 1 will be accessible to the general public. Currently dependent on the Ameri

The News: Europe - You are Here.

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14826397/N001-90929-001-EN.srt

European citizens will now be able   to find their route to the nearest metre.

From 1 October the EGNOS service,   a geostationary navigation system,

will be available for free   without prior authorisation.

We shouldn't rely on   US or Russian information.

It's good to have   our own European system.

The European Parliament   has always supported this programme

and has been heavily involved   in the building of EGNOS.

Previously, the accuracy of a GPS   receiver was only 17 metres.

The accuracy of EGNOS,   to the nearest metre will be useful

in agriculture to spread   fertiliser more accurately,

in directing drivers   as well as the blind and visually impaired.

EGNOS is currently only available   with the US system, GPS,

the Global Positioning System.   EGNOS has to be integrated

into the future geostationary   navigation system, Galileo.

Unfortunately, Galileo   is 3 years behind schedule.

At first, Galileo   was conceived as a joint venture

between the public   and private sectors.

But the participating companies   merged into a consortium

and free competition   could no longer be guaranteed.

The EU has had to finance   the Galileo project on its own

Technological independence   comes at a price.