EU taxpayers face €3bn bill for Galileo satellites

EUROPE’S taxpayers may have to fund the €3 billion Galileo satellite system after companies involved in a public-private partnership failed to agree this week.

The system, designed as an alternative to the US Department of Defence-controlled GPS (Global Positioning System), was to have been two-thirds funded by eight companies from Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

A spokesperson for EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said he would present a list of alternatives to the commission next Wednesday for getting the project on track. The consortium of companies had been given until yesterday to set up a joint company to run the project, but they failed to meet the deadline.