On 29 March 2017 the United Kingdom notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Consequently, the United Kingdom will become a third country and Union law will cease to apply to it from 30 March 2019, unless another date is established in a withdrawal agreement, or the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, unanimously establishes another date.

Most of the GSS stations are located on the territory of a Member State of the European Union for reasons that relate primarily to the security of the European Union and its Member States. Nevertheless, the creation and operation of GSS stations on the territory of a third country is not ruled out, but requires the conclusion of appropriate arrangements with the country concerned, covering security matters in particular.

As the United Kingdom will become a third country from 30 March 2019, or on another date established in a withdrawal agreement, or established unanimously by the European Council in agreement with the United Kingdom, if no appropriate arrangements with the United Kingdom have been put in place by that date, the GSS stations located in Ascension and the Falkland Islands should be removed. Even if the date of the United Kingdom's withdrawal is ultimately later than 30 March 2019, it is essential to take account of the time required for the removal and relocation of the various pieces of equipment that make up these two stations.

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/413 should be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in line with the opinion of the committee established pursuant to Article 36(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1285/2013,