Brussels, 05/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of the European Commission went to Brazil and Mexico last week to discuss the possibility of these two countries getting involved in the development of the European satellite radio navigation system. The meeting was "very positive", a European civil servant told EUROPE. Brazil has skills in the spatial and satellite navigation field, which qualifies it for joining Galileo, he added. The Commission is now waiting for a formal commitment on the part of Brazil on its intentions of taking part in Galileo, before asking the Council for a negotiation mandate. Furthermore, on Friday Ukraine confirmed in writing its intentions of taking part in the European system, which allows the Commission to prepare a negotiation mandate to be presented to the Council "by the end of the month", continued the civil servant. The aim is to get negotiation mandates with the three countries (Brazil, Mexico, Ukraine) by the end of the year. The Commission also hopes to conclude negotiations with Russia, for which it obtained a mandate in 1999, to be able to conclude an agreement. This will be of the same kind as that concluded with the US (see EUROPE of 24 June on this point), with the objective of making the European and Russian (GLONASS) systems mutually compatible. A new negotiation session is planned for around 15 July, continued the staff member, concluding that negotiations were going in the right direction.