19/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - Funding foreseen for financing the validation phase of the European satellite radio-navigation programme, Galileo, is in excess of the initial €500 million budget, mainly due to the delay incurred when the programme was set in place. Part of this cost has already been met by ESA (European Space Agency). Another €175 million has still to be found, possibly through the additional fair returns notched up by major ESA contributors. Additional spending could make the financing of other projects foreseen by ESA more difficult, such as the launching of the second phase of the Kopernikus programme or activation of the development programme for the new generation of European launchers, which await the go-ahead of the ESA ministerial meeting on 26 November. The question of financing this debt will be discussed by ESA members during the autumn. (A.By./transl.jl)