Brussels, 10/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - Competition between Spain, Italy, Germany and France to host the headquarters of the European radio navigation system Galileo in the future could poison an already tense situation at the European Space Agency (ESA) regarding the sharing of responsibility for providing the EUR 400 mil additional funding required for Galileo's deployment, due to begin in 2006. In an interview with German publication Die Welt on Thursday, the President of Italy's space agency, Sergio Vetrella, criticised Germany's hesitation to provide some of the funding. But Germany argues that before deciding on funding, there must be agreement on the division of labour and hence on the location of the various headquarters buildings. Spain is threatening to block decisions if there is no Galileo headquarters in Spain. In the interview with Die Welt, Vetrella warned that if agreement was not reached on funding in October this year, the launch phase risked being postponed, engendering further costs.
At the 6 October Transport Council, Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot expressed concern at the situation and reminded ministers of their responsibility to find agreement on funding in the near future to ensure the second phase of Galileo went ahead as planned.