The Council of ministers of transport, meeting in Brussels on 26 March, unanimously approved the launch of the “Galileo” project of satellite positioning and navigation. “Galileo” represents the European response to the American “GPS” system which has already been in operation for many years. The project will be used in fundamental sectors of the European economy such as transport, medicine and defence. The private sector will be able to complement the public sector in the phase of the final implementation of the project which envisages the positioning of thirty satellites in orbit. “Without Galileo said Spanish Minister Alvarez-Cascos, current president of the Transport Council technology, research, development and employment would run the risk of being created elsewhere but not in Europe”. “Galileo” should become operative from 2008. A budgetary allocation of some 3.5 billion euros had been pledged to it. G.A.G.
