WRITTEN QUESTION P-1502/01 by Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE) to the Council. Funding of the Galileo Satellite Navigation System Project.
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, private investment, private sector, research project, satellite navigation

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/33

The Council deeply regrets that the hunger strikes in Turkey are still leading to loss of life. The Council has
repeatedly pressed the Turkish authorities to take all appropriate measures to avoid further deaths and to
follow the recommendations of the Council of Europe(cid:146)s Committee for the Prevention of Torture through
changes in the law and practical measures.

The Council notes that the Turkish Government has already chosen to cooperate with the Council of
Europe(cid:146)s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which has to date made four visits to Turkey in
connection with the hunger strikes. Changes to the law have come into force or will shortly do so,
including some aiming to reduce the isolation of prisoners. The Council urges the Turkish Government to
implement the new laws speedily and in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee for the
Prevention of Torture, since Turkey(cid:146)s compliance with the European Convention for the Prevention of
Torture constitutes a short-term priority of the Partnership Agreement.

The Council also recalls that the Accession Partnership for Turkey, adopted by the Council on 8 March
2001, includes prison reform as a medium-term priority.

The Council and the Member States will continue to raise the issue with the Turkish Government in the
framework of the enhanced political dialogue, the most recent occasion being the meeting of the EC-
Turkey Association Council which took place on 26 June 2001. In addition, the Council and Member
States use their contacts with Turkish partners, including the Turkish Ministers of the Interior and of
Justice, in Ankara and elsewhere to make their concerns about the hunger strikes clear.

The Council welcomes the recent visit to Ankara by members of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Committee as an important contribution to the joint efforts by the European Parliament, the Council and
the Commission to prompt the Turkish Government to persevere with political reforms and to do
whatever is necessary to bring the hunger strikes to an end.

(2002/C 81 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1502/01

by Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Funding of the Galileo Satellite Navigation System Project

The Memorandum of Understanding signalling the provisional funding from private sector bodies of
EUR 200 million needs further explanation. Could the Council give examples of some of the industries
which have agreed to the funding? Could the Council also confirm the reports that unless a firm political
decision is taken on the definitive phase by June 2001 then this commitment by the private sector will
become obsolete?

In the interest of transparency may I call on the Council 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 Council also provide an up-to-date breakdown of the contributions foreseen from
individual Member States?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

Contacts between the Commission and industrialists interested in the Galileo project have led to the
signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of arrangements for participation by the
private sector in the development phase of the Galileo satellite radionavigation programme. Although not
a party to these contacts, the Council has noted the interest to which the Galileo project continues to give
rise among industrialists.

C 81 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

At its meeting on 5 April 2001, the Council adopted a Resolution on the Galileo project (1), which sets a
work plan with a precise timetable of decisions still to be taken. In accordance with this work plan, it is
envisaged that at its meetings on 27 and 28 June 2001, the Council will establish a preliminary definition
of the services Galileo can provide. It cannot, of course, prejudge any decisions still to be taken in
December 2001 or later.

In its April Resolution, the Council agreed immediately to release financing up to EUR 100 million for the
year 2001 and, upon approval of this resolution, in compliance with the mechanisms of the Financial
Regulation concerning the TEN, to take a decision in December 2001 on releasing the remaining TEN
budget appropriations (namely EUR 450 million) as well as a decision on setting up the entity in charge of
the management of the Galileo project.

Recalling that the European Council, at successive meetings and notably at Stockholm, confirmed the aim
invited the Commission to
of securing finance largely from private sources, to that end, the Council
launch, as soon as possible, a tendering process giving a perspective of all the phases of the project in
order to enable the longer term development of the private sector involvement in the project to identify
the commercial and public services to be provided by Galileo, to specify the revenue flows that they could
generate and the accompanying measures required to bring this about. This will also help to clarify the
conditions for the longer term commitment by the private sector. The result of the tender evaluation will
be available early in November 2001 to serve as a basis for a decision by the Council before the end of
2001. This decision will also define the maximum available Community funds for the deployment and
operational phases.

The public-private partnership is recognised as a key element for the success of the Galileo project. The
European Council has itself confirmed this approach at various meetings, and recently,
in Stockholm,
noted that the private sector had to take up the challenge with regard to participation in the project and its
financing through a binding commitment for the deployment phase. It should be noted that the private
sector has already made a specific response to this request by committing itself through the signing of the
abovementioned memorandum of understanding as from the development phase (2001-2005), which
precedes the deployment phase (2006-2007).

The Council must take a decision, before the end of 2001, specifying, among other things, the conditions
for the longer term commitment by the private sector and defining the maximum available Community
funds for the deployment and operational phases of the Galileoproject. As for any contributions by the
various Member States, it has been specified that contributions from additional national funds will not be
compulsory.

(1) OJ C 157, 30.5.2001.

(2002/C 81 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1517/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Postponement of European elections

Could the Council outline the procedure and likely timescale required for postponement of European
elections to be agreed should circumstances arise in any Member State that meant there would be an
impediment to political campaigning through reasons of public health concerns or similar?

Reply

(21 November 2001)

Under existing legislation, namely the Act concerning the election of European Parliament representatives
by direct universal suffrage annexed to the Council Decision of 20 September 1976, the procedure for
setting the dates for European elections is clear.