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EU ministers approve sat-nav deal EU ministers approve sat-nav deal
(about 10 hours later)
A majority of EU transport ministers have approved the multi-billion euro Galileo satellite navigation project.A majority of EU transport ministers have approved the multi-billion euro Galileo satellite navigation project.
The decision was made without the backing of Spain, which had demanded that it host a ground station for the network of 30 orbiting satellites.The decision was made without the backing of Spain, which had demanded that it host a ground station for the network of 30 orbiting satellites.
Ministers had until the end of year to reach an agreement. The system is supposed to be in operation by 2013. Ministers had until the end of the year to reach an agreement. The system is supposed to be in operation by 2013.
Questions remain about its cost but supporters say it will create jobs and cut dependence on the US GPS service.Questions remain about its cost but supporters say it will create jobs and cut dependence on the US GPS service.
The Commission had said that if agreement was not reached by the end of the year, the project would essentially be dead. "This is going to ensure economic and strategic independence," commented EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. "Spatial navigation is really an indication of our power amongst the countries of the world."
Project hurdle The EU's executive had previously said that if agreement was not reached by January 2008, the long-troubled project would essentially be dead.
The 3.4bn euro (£2.4bn) Galileo programme plans only two ground stations: one near Munich and one near Rome. The current crisis was triggered by the collapse earlier in the year of the private consortium asked to build most of Galileo's infrastructure and run its services.
The Spanish demand was another hurdle in a programme plagued by setbacks. Two segment rule
"We just don't have the money for a third ground station," one EU diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, said. The transport ministers, meeting in Brussels, have now approved a plan to refinance the project solely from the EU budget, using spare - primarily agriculture - funds.
Dominique Bussereau, France's deputy transport minister, suggested Spain be given a Galileo test centre. GALILEO UNDER CONSTRUCTION A European Commission and European Space Agency project30 satellites to be launched in batches by end of 2011-12Will work alongside US GPS and Russian Glonass systemsPromises real-time positioning down to less than a metreGuaranteed under all but most extreme circumstancesSuitable for safety-critical roles where lives depend on service class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4555298.stm">Europe lofts Galileo satellite class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4555276.stm">Q&A: Europe's Galileo project class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4564190.stm">Galileo puts UK on map Once the 3.4bn-euro (£2.4bn) of Galileo system is up and running, a private group is still likely to be asked to operate the network.
GALILEO UNDER CONSTRUCTION A European Commission and European Space Agency project30 satellites to be launched in batches by end of 2011-12Will work alongside US GPS and Russian Glonass systemsPromises real-time positioning down to less than a metreGuaranteed under all but most extreme circumstancesSuitable for safety-critical roles where lives depend on service class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4555298.stm">Europe lofts Galileo satellite class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4555276.stm">Q&A: Europe's Galileo project class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4564190.stm">Galileo puts UK on map The other key area to be resolved by the Transport Council concerned the division of construction contracts across Europe.
Spain insisted on hosting part of a control centre, an EU official told the Reuters news agency, while Italy, which will also house a centre, did not want funds diverted to a Spanish location. Thirty satellites must be lofted into a mid-Earth orbit 26,000km above the planet. These will be supported by ground stations in Italy and Germany.
"It's an issue between Italy and Spain," said the official. "It's a very small issue compared to the (overall) project... but it's very complicated." The Brussels meeting adopted a six-segment approach, with no one company being allowed the prime contractor position on more than two segments.
A Spanish official said: "We want to participate more in Galileo than we are now doing." The stipulation was designed to pacify Germany, which, as the EU's biggest financial contributor, had feared its industry would not get a sufficient share of the business.
After the private sector abandoned Galileo this year, the European Commission drafted tender rules to ensure large and small companies in many EU nations benefited from the construction of the Galileo project. "I am very confident that the German space industry will get a substantial part of the project," Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told reporters after the deal. "There is no monopoly possible for one national industry."
Germany, the biggest contributor to the EU budget, pays the most toward Galileo and wants German companies to benefit proportionately. Spanish demands
It was the Spanish delegation which left the meeting most disappointed.
Madrid had wanted a role in Galileo control centre activities, which will be essential to monitor the space system's health and performance.
But when no satisfactory compromise could be worked out during the protracted discussions, the other nations used their "qualified majority" to push through Mr Barrot's plan.
"I think that the EU, the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Portuguese Presidency are deserving congratulations for having made a major step forward with this project," said Portuguese Transport Minister Mario Lino, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.
"We are now going to move on with the implementation phase and put an end to this period of disturbances that has accompanied this process in recent times."
Precision clocks
Galileo is envisaged as a rival (but technologically complementary) to GPS and touted as a key high-technology venture for the EU.Galileo is envisaged as a rival (but technologically complementary) to GPS and touted as a key high-technology venture for the EU.
It stalled after a group of eight private companies from France, Germany, Spain, Britain and Italy tasked with developing the system disagreed on how to share out work. It is designed to improve substantially the availability and accuracy of timing signals delivered from space.
At least one billion euros of taxpayers' money has already been spent on the project. These signals already play a fundamental role - not just in navigation, but also in electricity distribution, the functioning of email and the internet, and in the security of financial transactions and many other economic activities.
The Netherlands and Sweden have also had reservations about the merit of using EU funds for Galileo. Of the 2.4bn euros (£1.7bn) still needed, 1.6bn euros (£1.1bn) will come from leftover agriculture funds and the rest from research, transport and administration budgets. Galileo's improved clocks are expected to deepen and extend this role.
The better penetration, accuracy and guarantees of service promised by Galileo should also give many more entrepreneurs the confidence to build business plans around sat-nav, say supporters.
Analysts expect sat-nav applications to boom as more and more mobile phones carry receiver chips.
But there are still many in Europe who have grave concerns about the costs of Galileo, and believe the benefits have been hyped. In the UK, a group of MPs recently issued a report that was scathing about the project's management and prospects.
THE FIVE GALILEO SERVICES NAVIGATION Open Access This will be 'free to air' and for use by the mass market; Simple timing and positioning down to 1m Commercial Encrypted; High accuracy at the cm scale; Guaranteed service for which service providers will charge fees Safety of life Open service; For applications where guaranteed accuracy is essential; Integrity messages warn of errors Public regulated Encrypted; Continuous availability even in time of crisis; Government agencies will be main users SAR Search and Rescue System will pick up distress beacon locations; Feasible to send feedback, confirming help is on its wayTHE FIVE GALILEO SERVICES NAVIGATION Open Access This will be 'free to air' and for use by the mass market; Simple timing and positioning down to 1m Commercial Encrypted; High accuracy at the cm scale; Guaranteed service for which service providers will charge fees Safety of life Open service; For applications where guaranteed accuracy is essential; Integrity messages warn of errors Public regulated Encrypted; Continuous availability even in time of crisis; Government agencies will be main users SAR Search and Rescue System will pick up distress beacon locations; Feasible to send feedback, confirming help is on its way