On 18 February 2004, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the GALILEO research programme. Aimed at creating a satellite radionavigation system, the programme, says the report, is making steady progress.

GALILEO, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA), is expected to give rise to a technological revolution comparable to that produced by mobile telephones, leading to the development of a new generation of services in sectors such as transport, telecommunications, agriculture and security.

According to the new Communication, the GALILEO development phase, which runs from 2002 to 2005, is progressing as planned. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio said, Everything is now in place to be able to move on to the deployment and operation phases in accordance with the planned deadlines, i.e. before the end of the decade.

Movement on several fronts

The year 2003 was crucial for the GALILEO programme. The first two experimental satellites were ordered in July 2003 and will be emitting signals from space by the summer of 2006. They will use frequencies allocated to the GALILEO system at the 2003 World Radiocommunications Conference.

The Communication also cites rapid development of international co-operation. The agreement concluded with China in October 2003 is important example. Similar initiatives are underway with regard to other third countries. Negotiations currently being held with the United States are expected to result in an agreement guaranteeing the interoperability of American and European systems.

Finally, the communication devotes much attention to the preparation of deployment (2006 to 2008) and operation (from 2008) phases. The procedure for designating the future GALILEO concession holder is also moving forward; three consortia have been selected for the second phase. Moreover, discussions on the future management structures for the system, particularly with respect to the Supervisory Authority, are making good progress within the Council.

Laying legal groundwork

In its conclusions, the Communication stresses that legislative procedures concerning future management structures must be completed without delay and that the European Parliament and the Council should confirm the guidelines they have previously issued. In particular, it is vital that ESA can decide on technical options considered so far, that the joint undertaking completes negotiations relating to the choice of system operator and that the Supervisory Authority concludes the concession contract.

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