Brussels, 25/10/2005 (Agence Europe) -With the European satellite radio navigation project seeming to be getting bogged down in industrial decision-making, and with it issues of site and corollary discussions about various financial aspects, the European Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot took a decision, on Tuesday 25 October, to appoint the Belgian Karel Van Miert to play the part of intermediary. He has tasked the former Competition Commissioner with a good offices mission to the Member States and European industries, in order to facilitate the decision-making process for the Galileo programme.
In a press release, the Commission explains: "Over the past few weeks, some decisions at industrial level have been delayed for various reasons, partly because of the complexity of the industrial organisation. We want to see urgent progress, because teams of experts from the industry have been brought together and a truly European stock of scientific, economic and financial expertise on satellite navigation has emerged. These teams now have to get down to work in order to prepare the launching of the first four satellites of the Galileo constellation. Galileo is the first big industrial EU project. It represents an enormous opportunity for research and mobility in Europe, for job creation and for industrial competitiveness. A large number of countries in the world want to participate in the programme. Galileo is a project that only a united Europe can accomplish. A divided Europe can only endanger the success of the project. Jacques Barrot calls on all those concerned, including Member States, agencies and industry, to lend their help and support to Karel Van Miert so that he can successfully accomplish his mission as quickly as possible".