Brussels, 03/09/2008 (Agence Europe)-According to a proposal by the French Presidency of the EU, which was put to Coreper on Wednesday 3 September, the representation of the Council on the inter-institutional panel of Galileo (European satellite radio-navigation programme) may be made up of the deputy permanent representatives to the "trio" of the presidencies (the past, present and future presidencies of the Council). The delegation of the European Parliament will comprise three permanent members, plus three alternate members, in order to ensure that all political groups are represented. The composition of the Parliamentary delegation, proposed by the President of the "Industry, Research and Energy" committee of the European Parliament, Angelika Niebler (EPP-ED, Germany), is to be validated next week by the Conference of the Presidents. All of its members will be recruited from the body of the MEPs, but for the time being, no names have got as far as the press. The Galileo inter-institutional panel (GIP) may hold its first meeting at the end of September. As a consultative body, the GIP will be responsible for institutionalising the exchange of information between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission on the subject of Galileo, further to the dissolution of the public-private partnership proposed by the Commission in September 2007, which means that the programme is now, once again, managed by Community bodies (see EUROPE 9503 and 9637). It will now comprise three representatives of the Council and the Parliament and one from the Commission (see EUROPE 9635). Often criticised for its lack of competence concerning the technical aspects of the programme, the unit to be responsible for Galileo within the Commission will be joined towards the end of the year by experts from the programme's supervisory body (GSA) - kept in place by request of the Parliament after the programme was restructured. Lastly, the direct result of putting the programme under a Community umbrella, the Galileo committee (the committee of European GNSS committees), which is tasked with assisting the European Commission, will hold its first meeting on Wednesday 10 September. This meeting will bring together representatives of all of the Member States of the EU. (A.By./trans.fl)