Brussels, 21/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 20 June, the consortiums InavSat (EADS, Thales and Immarsat) and Eurly (Alcatel, Finmeccanica, Hispasat et Aena) tabled their "joint proposal" for the concession of the European satellite navigation system, to the joint company Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU), in line with announcements made by GJU spokesperson Hans Peter Marchlewski (EUROPE 8969). Mr Marchlewski said that the tabling of this joint offer did not prejudge the final decision, to be taken on 27 June on the sidelines of the Council of Transport ministers. GJU will verify whether this joint offer is better than either of the two offers examined at the same time, but in parallel.
Whilst the CEO of Thales, Denis Ranque, said that the offer seems to him to be a good one, the German government has reiterated, through the voice of its transport Minister Manfred Stolpe, its opposition to a merger between the offers from the two consortiums, as it feels that this would lead to a clear in balance in favour of companies from the Mediterranean countries, some of which are public groups". Germany continues to believe that competition between the two candidates would have beneficial effects by helping to keep prices down, but most of all, it expects it to provide the most favourable possible industrial fallout on its territory. Nonetheless, cooperation between both candidates seems the most likely solution, as InavSat's competence in satellites will complement Eurly's skills in the field of payloads.