25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the run-up to the Transport Council in Luxembourg on 7-8 June, which will be deciding on the future of the European satellite navigation system Galileo, the president of the European Parliament's defence subcommittee, Karl von Wogau (EPP-ED, Germany), is backing the European Commission's idea of funding Galileo from the Community budget. In a press release issued on Thursday 24 May, von Wogau warns that providing new funds from the European Space Agency's budget through contributions from the member states (the second funding option to be submitted to the Council on 8 June, see EUROPE 9428) would cause further delays to implementing Galileo and further loss of competitiveness. He said only funding from the EU budget would make it possible to actually speed up this important technological project. (aby)