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Paris (ESA) Mar 20, 2002 "Space can do a lot for European citizens. Our global satellite navigation system Galileo is now only a step away from taking wing and fly high", said Antonio Rodota, the Director General of the European Space Agency, welcoming the conclusions of the European Council held on 15 and 16 March in Barcelona, and echoing the appreciation expressed by the ESA Council, the governing body of the Agency, gathered in Paris for its 156th meeting today and tomorrow. The European Council met in Barcelona for its second annual Spring meeting to take stock of the economic, social and environmental situation in the Union. In the field of transport, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the progress on Galileo and asked the Transport council, scheduled to gather on 25-26 March in Brussels, to take the necessary decision regarding both the funding and launching of this programme, developed with ESA on a 50-50 fund sharing basis. The Galileo satellite navigation system, constituted a major topic for decision at the European Space Agency's ministerial Council in Edinburgh last November. In that occasion, the ministers in charge for space activities in Europe agreed funding for the Galileo development and in-orbit validation phase, subject to the EU Transport Council to approve the Galileo programme.
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