Brussels, 24/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - Antonio Tajani has his eyes firmly set on the EU's space programme timetable, which seeks to provide services from the European satellite navigation system, Galileo, in 2014. Tajani, European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, met leading figures from the space industry for discussions on Tuesday 23 April. The director general of the European Space Agency, Jean-Jacques Dordain, as well as the heads of Arianespace, Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and OHB (the main players in the European space programme) also attended the meeting. Tajani underlined the need to meet the timetable and the budget allocated for the deployment of the Galileo constellation of satellites so that and the first services can be provided on time. The meeting also examined the Commission's strategy of the space industry, as well as the progress made on the Copernicus programme, the European terrestrial observation programme. Given the huge opportunity that the space sector represents for industry and the importance of europe's independence in this area, the Commissioner noted: “All of us involved in the implementation of programmes such as Galileo or Copernicus have an obligation to ensure that citizens and enterprises benefit from the public investment as quickly as possible. That is why I continue to insist that schedules and budgets are respected to the letter”. The commissioner also welcomed the deal agreed last week in the trilogue meeting on the funding and governance of European satellite radio navigation systems for the 2014-2020 planning period (see EUROPE 10829). (MD/trans.fl)