Galileo all set for go ahead

Date: 29/03/01

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TRANSPORT ministers are set to agree on €100 million in immediate funding for the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system when they give the green light to the project next week.

The breakthrough deal comes after months of wrangling between the European Commission and member states, which wanted firmer funding pledges from the private sector and tighter political controls before the €3.5-billion programme could go ahead.

A group of countries led by the Netherlands had expressed serious doubts about Galileo's commercial viability, after hearings with the private sector last month produced no firm pledges for infrastructure investment.

The compromise, to be agreed by transport ministers meeting on Wednesday (4 April) and Thursday, comes after a climb-down by the EU executive in which transport Director-General François Lamoureux agreed that the EU's €550-million infrastructure outlay should be released in two stages, under ministerial supervision.

"The first €100 million isn't a big deal," said one EU diplomat, "and we've inserted more milestones into the process where the council can decide the next move."

Transport ministers are set to agree on €100 million in immediate funding for the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system. The breakthrough deal comes after months of wrangling between the European Commission and Member States, which wanted firmer funding pledges from the private sector and tighter political controls before the €3.5 billion programme could go ahead.