EGNOS constitutes the first step towards European independence on satellite navigation. EGNOS will complement the military-controlled GPS system with a number of civil, GPS-L1 like signals that are to be disseminated by geostationary satellites. These signals will significantly improve the position accuracy and will also allow users to be warned in case of GPS malfunctioning. The European GALILEO system will build on this experience and will provide the much needed independent complement for making satellite navigation a truly reliable proposition for safety-critical services.