Transport Council backs Galileo plan
EU transport ministers gave their support to a Swedish Presidency action plan on Galileo satellite navigation system on 5 April. According to the plan, the focus is now on defining how the business sector can participate in financing the project and how the project is to be organised. Galileo will comprise of a global system with some 30 satellites. It is hoped that the system will be operational in 2008. 'Europe now has the opportunity to build a modern, civil navigation system that may be an important element in the European and global infrastructure,' said the Swedish Minister for Industry, employment and communications, Björn Rosengren, who is currently chairman of the EU's Transport Council. 'Galileo can give us better service and opportunities to use satellite navigation in many new areas. The project will mean major opportunities for the business world.