By Martin Banks - 14th May 2007
The European commission is set to present new plans to fund Galileo, Europe’s ailing satellite navigation system.
Brussels had set a private consortium a 10 May deadline to come forward with a single company structure to run Galileo, with a chief executive, a headquarters and a strategy.
But last Thursday, the EU executive said the target had not been met to its satisfaction.
EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot will now put forward a range of options – which may include ending the project altogether – to the commission on Wednesday.
These will then be sent for approval by the EU’s transport ministers in June.
Barrot is thought to want public money to finance start-up costs of about €3.6bn, with the private sector operating the 30 satellites once they are in orbit.
The French commissioner's spokesman said the commission intended to propose "different scenarios to put Galileo on the right track".
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