EU-ministers bepalen locatie Galileo-hoofdkwartier ondanks technische hobbels (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU ministers are set to choose the seat of Europe's satellite navigation programme Galileo - an ambitious project to compete with the American GPS by 2011 - but a decision on private contractors has been delayed.

Eleven countries - the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, Malta, Belgium, France, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Greece and Italy - have applied to host the public body to oversee the programme dubbed the Galileo Supervisory Authority.

The EU's transport ministers will debate the location of the supervisory body during a working lunch within a general meeting in Brussels on Monday (11 December).

The move comes after EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot i admitted on Friday that negotiations with the group of eight private partners who will manage the Galileo system - originally planned to close in late 2005 - were still ongoing.

"No one has an interest in seeing these talks fail," he said in a Brussels press conference, but did not say when the talks would resume.

"I think that even if there is a little delay in signing this concession contract, things are on the right track," said Mr Barrot.

The European Commission has launched an open consultation with stakeholders on how the EU should make the best use of the satellite navigation applications which will emerge once Galileo is completed, mainly in terms of the legal framework for the role of public bodies in its development.

Brussels believes the system will bring new prospects to various commercial sectors which will eventually help to boost the economic growth and jobs and also "improve the daily life of citizens around the world."

It system is mainly supposed to be used for civilian purposes - such as the management of Europe's transport infrastructure - railways, roads and sea lanes - and will cost about €1 billion from the bloc's common coffers in the next seven-year budgetary period.

With around 30 satellites projected to be part of the system, it could offer services such as direction finding and search and rescue.

"These economic returns are many times higher than the costs of the system itself," Mr Barrot said.

However, the commissioner recently sparked controversy by suggesting that Galileo's satellite data could be used for military purposes - an option which "remains open" he said on Friday.

Apart from the Galileo seat, transport ministers will also debate the commission's proposals on cutting roaming charges and postal services liberalisation.