UK is backing EU satellite plan despite MPs' warnings of spiralling costs

A majority of EU transport ministers voted for the Galileo satellite navigation project to go ahead yesterday (Thursday).

Despite failing to win backing from the Spanish government – which wants to house part of the ground control satellite monitoring station – the project will go ahead.

The plan for the 30-satellite scheme is now in place, with support from the UK despite it being branded an "EU vanity project" by the Commons transport committee earlier this month.

EU budget ministers confirmed last week that agricultural subsidy and research funds would be diverted to cover a €2.4bn (£1.7bn) funding gap caused by the collapse of the private sector consortium set up to run the project.

Galileo will give the Europe its own global positioning satellite system. Current European signals come from the US system.