09-27-2003, 08:02 AM
Israel and India look to participate in Galileo
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels
Published: September 25 2003 5:00 | Last Updated: September 25 2003 5:00
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Israel and India are stepping up diplomatic efforts to participate in Galileo, the European Union's rival to the Pentagon-controlled Global Positioning System, officials said yesterday.
The move could provide the EU's ambitious satellite navigation system with much-needed investment as well as making it a formidable competitor to the US, which so far has enjoyed a monopoly in this sector.
China last week clinched a deal with the EU to invest up to â¬230m ($263m, £160m) in Galileo in its bid to upgrade its communications systems but also to move closer to the EU on defence issues, even though the EU retains an arms embargo on the Beijing government since the 1989 Tiananmen Square killings.
Like China, Israel and India are turning to Galileo because the Pentagon's GPS system is closed to outsiders.
"It is clear the US does not want foreign participation. The issue for them is security," said Oded Eran, Israel's ambassador to the EU. "We very much hope to be part of Galileo. We belong to a small club [of countries] that can launch satellites. We feel there is a lot of know-how in Israel that we can contribute."
Mr Eran said Galileo would provide Israel with technological advantages, from locating scarce water resources and geological mapping, to tracking cars that are stolen in Israel and taken over to the occupied territories of the West Bank.
Galileo, however, would not be used for defence purposes, such as providing missiles with improved accuracy, insisted Mr Eran.
India is also knocking at the door of the European Commission, which is charged with negotiating with third or non-EU countries wishing to participate in Galileo - scheduled to be fully operational in 2008 with a navigation system more accurate and just as secure as GPS.
The Commission requires a negotiating mandate from the transport council that represents the 15 member states. Loyola de Palacio, EU transport commissioner, will make the first soundings on seeking such a mandate on October 9 when the council meets. "She will test the waters," said an EU official. "She will not ask for a mandate at this stage. She has to be sure of getting one when she does formally ask."
Diplomats said several member states were likely to ask at what level Israel and India should be permitted to participate in the â¬3.2bn Galileo project.
Both countries are involved in serious regional conflicts - Israel with the Palestinians and India with Pakistan over Kashmir. Both are also nuclear powers and have sophisticated communications and satellite systems.
"It is clear that they would not be given access to sensitive issues or given access to certain levels of technology," said another EU diplomat. "That might change over time if the conflicts were, for instance, resolved."
:cool
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels
Published: September 25 2003 5:00 | Last Updated: September 25 2003 5:00
[url="http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059480102081"]http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?p...d=1059480102081[/url]
Israel and India are stepping up diplomatic efforts to participate in Galileo, the European Union's rival to the Pentagon-controlled Global Positioning System, officials said yesterday.
The move could provide the EU's ambitious satellite navigation system with much-needed investment as well as making it a formidable competitor to the US, which so far has enjoyed a monopoly in this sector.
China last week clinched a deal with the EU to invest up to â¬230m ($263m, £160m) in Galileo in its bid to upgrade its communications systems but also to move closer to the EU on defence issues, even though the EU retains an arms embargo on the Beijing government since the 1989 Tiananmen Square killings.
Like China, Israel and India are turning to Galileo because the Pentagon's GPS system is closed to outsiders.
"It is clear the US does not want foreign participation. The issue for them is security," said Oded Eran, Israel's ambassador to the EU. "We very much hope to be part of Galileo. We belong to a small club [of countries] that can launch satellites. We feel there is a lot of know-how in Israel that we can contribute."
Mr Eran said Galileo would provide Israel with technological advantages, from locating scarce water resources and geological mapping, to tracking cars that are stolen in Israel and taken over to the occupied territories of the West Bank.
Galileo, however, would not be used for defence purposes, such as providing missiles with improved accuracy, insisted Mr Eran.
India is also knocking at the door of the European Commission, which is charged with negotiating with third or non-EU countries wishing to participate in Galileo - scheduled to be fully operational in 2008 with a navigation system more accurate and just as secure as GPS.
The Commission requires a negotiating mandate from the transport council that represents the 15 member states. Loyola de Palacio, EU transport commissioner, will make the first soundings on seeking such a mandate on October 9 when the council meets. "She will test the waters," said an EU official. "She will not ask for a mandate at this stage. She has to be sure of getting one when she does formally ask."
Diplomats said several member states were likely to ask at what level Israel and India should be permitted to participate in the â¬3.2bn Galileo project.
Both countries are involved in serious regional conflicts - Israel with the Palestinians and India with Pakistan over Kashmir. Both are also nuclear powers and have sophisticated communications and satellite systems.
"It is clear that they would not be given access to sensitive issues or given access to certain levels of technology," said another EU diplomat. "That might change over time if the conflicts were, for instance, resolved."
:cool