Brussels, 17/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 14 January, Jean- Jacques Dordain, Secretary General of the European Space Agency, defended the European satellite navigation system against criticism made by German industry and published by the US embassy diplomatic files obtained by WikiLeaks. Dordain, quoted by AFP, said that the European Galileo navigation system “is needed by Europe and the world”. According to a note obtained by WikiLeaks, however, and published on Thursday 13 January in the Norwegian Aftenposten newspaper, “this European GPS” was a “stupid idea” defended by France for military reasons. This controversy is breaking out at the very moment the European Commission is about to publish its Galileo mid-term review on Tuesday 18 January. In this review, it will provide an assessment of the funding needed to finalise the programme beyond 2014. This communication, however, will not be making any proposal with regard to funding modalities. On Thursday 13 January, the Czech minister for transport announced the appointment of Carlo des Dorides from Italy to head the Galileo Supervisory Authority (GSA) based in Prague. (A.By./transl.fl)