European Union (EU) transport ministers have called on the European Commission (EC) to accelerate studies on co-operation issues and cost-benefit analysis for the Galileo satellite navigation system.
The Galileo, Europe's second-generation global navigation satellite system to follow the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System, will be independent of the US global positioning system (GPS) and will be developed as a public-private partnership.
Meeting in June, Europe's transport ministers requested that the EC "rapidly submit before the summer break" comprehensive guidelines for co-operation with the USA and the Russian Federation. Despite the Galileo's independence of the GPS, it will need to be compatible with the US system, while the Russian Federation is expected to be a major partner in the Galileo because of experience with its own Glonass system.
Europe's transport ministers also require a thorough cost-benefit analysis as soon as possible, to include studies of revenue sources and conditions for the proposed private-public partnership.
The EC, with the European Space Agency and member states, must "start without delay" the Galileo definition phase. The ministers also recommend establishment of a steering committee to start legal and institutional arrangements. The commission must urgently prepare for frequency allocation with the World Radio Conference, suggest transport ministers.
Source: Flight International
