The Council held an exchange of views on the possible additional public financing of Galileo, the EU's global satellite navigation system. Several delegations expressed opposition to any modification of the EU's current financial framework as a means of providing additional funding.
The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, at its meeting on 6-8 June, requested detailed alternative proposals for the financing of Galileo. The Commission is expected to present in September a proposal for continued management of the project.
Galileo, launched in 2001, has accumulated a delay of five years on its initial calendar and is currently facing a number of difficulties, in particular with regard to industrial governance and the transfer of risk to the private sector.
Without prejudice to decisions to be taken in the autumn, the Transport Council expressed support for deployment of the Galileo system by the end of 2012 and recognised that this would require additional public funding.