Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-04-04-Speech-3-095"
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"en.20010404.4.3-095"2
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"Mr President, on the Galileo project I would like to seek some clarification from the Commission and the Council on important issues which need to be addressed before the definitive phase of the project can be approved.
The Memorandum of Understanding signalling the provisional funding from private bodies of EUR 200 million needs further explanation. Could the Commission therefore give specific examples of some of the businesses which have agreed to the funding? Could the Commission also confirm reports that unless a firm political decision is taken on the definitive phase by June 2001, then such engagement of funding by private industry will become obsolete? Could the Commission also comment in this regard on the lack of a political commitment to come out of the Stockholm Summit? Surely vague rhetoric will not suffice when billions of euro are at stake and the deadline, according to the Commission's timetable, is less than three months away?
In the interests of transparency, may I call on the Commission to make absolutely clear its intentions with regard to the funding of this project and whether, in the absence of substantial private-sector interest, it will fund the project solely from the EU budget, including the EUR 220 million it will cost to maintain the project per annum? Could the Commission also provide an up-to-date breakdown of the contributions foreseen from individual Member States? On development, is the Commission aware that whilst the EU has been spending millions on Galileo the US has been updating its existing technology? Could the Commission justify why Galileo will only be used for civilian purposes, as it seems absurd that the EU decides to build its own satellite navigation system, yet denies its military capacity?
In conclusion, launching satellites is a very expensive business. We need firm assurances that investments in the Galileo project will produce an adequate return. Fundamental questions and less than three months to go. Unless the Commission comes forward immediately with some answers on this project, we in the EU run the risk of appearing amateurish and irresponsible. I therefore urge the Commission and Council to consider these points. At a cost of billions to the taxpayer, to whom we are directly responsible, we are entitled to some answers."@en1
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