WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/02 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission's position on the Galileo satellite localisation project.
Date: 2002-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, financing, research programme, satellite navigation

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/153

Moreover, the Commission approves the willingness expressed at Laeken to integrate policy on migratory
flows more fully into the Union’s external policy. It is in favour of any endeavour to reshape the work of
the High Level Group on Immigration and Asylum set up by the Council in 1999 whose mandate would
certainly benefit from being reviewed and up-dated. Before the end of the year, the Commission intends to
present to the Council and Parliament a proposal for a programme involving cooperation with third
countries based on the experience gained from the implementation of the new budgetary instrument
established at Parliament’s initiative. The Commission is also concerned that a genuine common policy on
readmission be introduced. It will step up its efforts to negotiate the agreements which it has already been
authorised to conclude and it will draft the necessary proposals to broaden this approach in a consistent
manner.

Following its communications advocating the introduction of methods to ensure open cooperation in the
areas of immigration and asylum, the Commission will shortly take the initiative to establish a European
system for the exchange of information on asylum, migration and countries of origin requested by the
European Council. This will include a proposal for a new statistical action plan called for by the Council in
May 2001 as well as the gradual development of a virtual migration monitoring centre and the resumption
of the activities of the Centre for information and exchange on asylum (CIREA) which the Permanent
Representatives Committee recently decided to abolish. In addition, the Commission will look into the
possibility of supplementing the instruments already adopted as part of the fight against discrimination and
racism with specific new measures on the integration of migrants

(2002/C 172 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/02

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Commission’s position on the Galileo satellite localisation project

Since its inception, the Galileo project, which is vital for navigation and the development of third
generation UMTS, has encountered serious problems within and outside the EU which may jeopardise its
future.

The recent European Council
in Laeken instructed the Council of Transport Ministers to take a final
decision by March 2002 on funding the development phase of the project, which will require EUR 1 100
million.

Will the Commission say what financial commitment is needed by the Union and the Member States to
importance in
develop this important European satellite localisation project, which may be of vital
ensuring Europe’s independence in the sector covered by Galileo and in the development of a vital
navigation network and third generation UMTS?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2002)

The total cost of the Galileo satellite positioning programme is estimated at between EUR 3,2 and EUR 3,4
billion. It comprises three phases.

The development and validation phase will last from 2001 to 2005. It will include both developing the
satellites and the ground components, and validating the system ‘in orbit’. It will cost EUR 1,1 billion,
shared equally between the EU and the European Space Agency. Budget provisions have already been
made in the current Community financial perspective for the EU’s contribution of EUR 550 million
provided from the trans-European networks appropriations. For its part, the European Space Agency
decided to approve its contribution of EUR 550 million at its meeting in Edinburgh on 15 November
2001.

The deployment phase (2006-2007) will include the construction and launch of the satellites, and the
installation of the complete ground segment. Total costs are estimated at between EUR 2 and EUR 2,1
billion, including both private and public sector contributions. To finance this phase, the Commission will
to make the necessary
future financial perspectives
make appropriate proposals under

in order

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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18.7.2002

appropriations available in the framework of the appropriations assigned to trans-European networks and
research. Moreover, the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD)
makes space a priority area. These proposals will be based on public and private sector funding. Each
sector’s contribution will be determined on the basis of the proposals to be made by the joint undertaking
depending on the results of the tender competitions it launches for selecting the Galileo operator or
operators. As for all such infrastructure projects, it is not possible at this stage to give more precise figures.

The commercial operation phase will start in 2008. The most recent studies anticipate gradually decreasing
public funding until 2015. It should be pointed out that EU contributions during the operation phase are
in fact compensation for services provided by the operator. The effects of this on public expenditure could
be offset by the yield from possible charges or taxes on the receivers.

In conclusion, except for the development phase funded by the European Space Agency, national budgets
will not bear any of the public funding costs for the various phases of the Galileo programme.

(2002/C 172 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0141/02

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: The 1976 EC Bathing Water Directive

There are millions of water users who use Europe’s coastal and inland waters each year. Would the
Commission agree that a number of changes to the legislation should be made in order that these water
users get the protection they deserve?

Will the Commission ensure when Directive 76/160/EEC (1) is revised that the following will be taken into
account?

Recent independent medical research has shown that there is an increased risk of gastro-intestinal illnesses
when faecal streptococci levels exceed just 35 per 100 ml. However, levels of faecal streptococci have been
found at 10 000 per 100 ml of water off the Anglesey (North Wales) coast.

Additional tertiary treatment processes using ultra violet light or microfiltration can reduce faecal bacteria
to just 35 per 100 ml, a 285-fold improvement over the levels permissible under the mandatory standard
and a near 60-fold improvement over the guideline standard.

Will the Commission therefore agree that present regulatory standards are woefully inadequate and the
introduction of far stricter standards that oblige water companies to build all new treatment plants to ‘full’
treatment standards is necessary?

The EC Bathing Water Directive states that ‘in order to protect the environment and public health, it is
necessary to reduce the pollution of bathing water and to protect such water against further deterioration’.
Does the Commission agree that present standards fail to do this?

(1) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

The Commission agrees that the bathing water Directive (1) should be revised. Full reasons for this were
explained in the Communication from the Commission to the Parliament and Council developing a new
bathing water policy (2).