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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 189 in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,Whereas:
(1)By letter of 14 December 2023, Iceland expressed its formal interest to start negotiations on an agreement in view of participating in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme.
(2)On 25 February 2025, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on behalf of the Union for the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme (the ‘Agreement’). The negotiations were successfully concluded on 16 June 2025.
(3)Iceland has a longstanding cooperation with the Union in the area of space, and is participating in several components of the Union Space Programme.
(4)The Union and Iceland have concluded an agreement on security procedures for the exchange of classified informationnote.
(5)From a geopolitical point of view, the participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and Iceland’s access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, will contribute to strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor and promote international cooperation as defined in the Space Strategy for Europe. An Agreement with Iceland will strengthen the Union’s strategic posture, which is an objective of the European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence.
(6)Therefore, the Agreement should be signed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1#
The signing of the Agreement between the European Union and Iceland laying down the rules for participation of Iceland in the GOVSATCOM component of the Union Space Programme and in the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and for access to GOVSATCOM services and to the governmental services of the Union Secure Connectivity Programme is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of that Agreementnote.
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