Brussels, 29/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani feels confident that the Galileo radio-navigation programme is keeping to schedule and that satellite launches will be accelerated in coming months, with the first Galileo services up and running by end 2014. Tajani showed his enthusiasm during the annual meeting on European space policy. There is an unknown factor, however, and that is how the policy will be funded. It should be noted that there will be a communication on space industry in the defence sector.
On Tuesday 29 January, Tajani opened the conference on “EU Space Policy: Building up a global tool for global challenges”, held in Brussels over two days for the fifth year running. With the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, he underlined the importance that the space industry has in kick-starting the economy and creating employment. The EGNOS and Galileo programmes are the best examples of this, Tajani pointed out, as they should generate social and economic benefits of nearly €90 billion over the next 20 years. Although, initially, there were delays in getting the Galileo programme started, this will no longer be the case, and the commissioner noted considerable progress and promised that the pace would be speeded up. As planned, the first four Galileo satellites are now in orbit and EGNOS has, for the past year, provided services for improving the GPS signal. The commissioner explained that the programme has gained in credibility and in expectations. The next objective is to allow Galileo to provide its first services by the end of 2014, on the basis of the infrastructure available. Tajani went on to add that, in these times of economic crisis, when reviving the economy has become an absolute priority, it is essential for citizens and businesses in particular to be able to use the services of Galileo rapidly and to their best advantage, without having to wait for the whole infrastructure to be completed. Further satellite launches will take place this autumn, with another series of satellites by end 2014.
Warning about funding of space policy. On the financial chapter, the agreement on the multiannual financial agreement, which had been hoped for at the European summit on 7-8 February, should resolve the matter. The Commission is looking for a budget of €2 billion annually over the period 2014-2020. Defending that allocation, the commissioner recalled that citizens were to be able to benefit from the economic and social advantages of space. He promised to optimise spending, mainly though better complementarity with the European Space Agency's activities, a subject on the agenda of the Space Council of 18 February.
Tajani, moreover, announced he would work in close collaboration with his counterpart for the internal market, Michel Barnier, on a defence-related communication, this being a sector in which space industry plays a key role. The document should be presented during February and discussed during the European summit dedicated to defence, in December. (MD/transl.jl)