Lack of progress on Community patent and GALILEO is 'alarming', says Prodi
Speaking to the European Parliament on 14 March, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission expressed dismay at the lack of progress towards a Community patent and further development of the GALILEO project. Mr Prodi was speaking to Parliament on preparations for the Stockholm Summit on 23 and 24 March, which will review progress made in the last year towards meeting the objectives set at the Lisbon summit in March 2000. The Community patent and the GALILEO project were highlighted by Mr Prodi as areas where 'swifter and more determined action is needed.' Inaction by the Member States and changing circumstances were blamed by the President for this lack of progress. 'Sometimes [...] Member States have been dragging their feet, lacking a sense of urgency, or political will, or both. Sometimes [...] circumstances have changed and a new scenario confronts us,' said Mr Prodi. Regarding the introduction of a Community patent, Mr Prodi stressed the urgency of the matter for inventors, and its benefits in cutting business costs, encouraging innovation and providing a clear legal framework for settling disputes. 'This lack of progress is alarming,' said Mr Prodi, The Member States must act consistently and show a greater sense of responsibility if this project is to succeed.' Member States were also berated by Mr Prodi for the lack of progress in the GALILEO project. 'It would take only a modest injection of public funds to trigger massive private investment [...]. GALILEO could, moreover, generate more than 100,000 high-level scientific jobs. I therefore urge this House and the Council to come to an agreement very soon on the next stage of development of this important project,' continued the President. Mr Prodi stressed the importance of this project as a means to make Europe self-sufficient in satellite navigation signals. Europe's total dependence on the American GPS satellite navigation system was shown only too clearly during the Kosovo war, said Mr Prodi. Anna Lindh, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs and current chair of the General Affairs Council, also present at the debate, stressed that it is important to develop new technology and ensure that the benefits of the digital revolution become available for everyone. The Swedish Presidency intends to add a further aim to those agreed in Lisbon, that of promoting environmentally friendly technology and introducing an ecological dimension to the whole process.