§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it remains his policy to oppose the EU Galileo project; and if he will make a statement. [116844]
§ Mr. MullinThe Government have not opposed the EU Galileo project. They have adopted a prudent approach to the project as they consider that key issues such as cost, funding (including arrangements for a public-private partnership), user benefits, security and management arrangements need to be properly evaluated. Such views are shared by other EU member states. Hence, the Transport Council, at its meeting in June 1999, adopted a Resolution that invited the European Commission to proceed only with the Definition Phase of Galileo in conjunction with member states and the European Space Agency. This phase has begun and includes detailed work on the issues of concern to the UK and other EU states. Based on the results of this work and negotiations with the US and the Russian Federation, the Commission is required, by the end of this year, to put forward proposals to the Council on the best way to proceed with the project either independently or in co-operation with international partners.