By François Lamoureux, Director General at
“Transport and Energy” at the European Commission
“In 2008, the Galileo system will provide unequalled precision satellite positioning over the whole planet - on land and in space. The range of services will be able to respond to the needs of the most demanding user, no matter where they are in the world. Does it really need spelling out that the global product and services market linked to radio-navigation services doubled between 2002-03 and that it will be worth over EUR 300 billion by 2020?
Galileo is expected to create more than 150,000 highly qualified jobs in Europe alone. It provides an industrial model that can boost competitiveness in Europe as part of the Lisbon strategy. It is even possible that the concessions on all the millions of Galileo receptors could constitute a significant resource for supporting the European Union's budget.
Are there any areas where this industrial and technological programme would be deficient? In 2008 the GSM programme could have an impact on our daily lives. It could also enable us to make changes to our lives. It could help reduce road accidents, contribute to detecting natural disasters or monitoring our borders and pin-pointing the transporting of hazardous materials. It is a promising situation that industrial cooperation with Russia will enable the launch of the first satellite from Baikonour in November by a Soyuz rocket, in collaboration with Ariane.
In the international arena, the Commission has striven to preserve Galileo's operational capabilities during the difficult negotiations with the USA. As a result, the agreement signed in 2004 does not rules out military use. On the other hand it ensures equal treatment between the two partners and coexistence between the two systems, the US (GSP) system and the European system. It includes a commitment to conclude a security agreement. The combined use of the two systems, the GPS and Galieo, will considerably strengthen satellite radio-navigation performance on land. It can be used for all tasks, whether this is for helping a plane land or a boat find a haven or a vehicle transporting medicines on civilian, military or humanitarian missions.
Technically, Galileo will provide a security signal reserved for certain services (customs, police, immigration etc.). This government service will perform similarly to a military service in terms of precision, protection and strength.
Galileo is the largest industrial project ever conceived across the EU25. The first European public and private partnership. The first space programme involving cooperation between the European Union and the European Space Agency. The first link in European space policy will be made possible by the Constitutional project. Galileo affirms that European capability shall be no-one's slave.