20/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - Responding to media questioning on Thursday about the GALILEO project, the Vice-President of the Commission with responsibility for Energy and Transport, Loyola de Palacio, said that the choices were crystal clear. The GALILEO project is not up against any economic difficulties; its profitability is proven and its costs are not out of control. The problems facing it are political. The question to be answered is whether or not the Community wants its own satellite navigation system. If the EU does not decide on the issue in March, I hope that the Member States most closely involved in the project will carry on, as happened with the Airbus project (see EUROPE of 19 December, p.12).