The EU and the US signed a co-operation agreement to co-operate over satellite navigation in Co Clare today.
This commits the EU to making Europe's new satellite navigation system, Galileo , compatible with the existing US Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Galileo project will see its first spacecraft begin to be deployed in 2007.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell signed the pact with Mr Loyola de Palacio, EU Transport Commissioner, at the EU-US summit at Dromoland Castle this morning.