Germany Says No to Galileo Funding

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would continue to oppose the way the European Union is managing proposals for the Galileo satellite navigation system Digital Journal reported today:

Speaking at a Berlin conference on transport, the chancellor said Berlin would "cheerfully" stand up for German national interests on the issue.

Berlin has criticized EU proposals to finance an investment budget shortfall of 2.4 billion euros (3.4 billion dollars) for the global-positioning system mainly from its own budget.

The German Chancellor reportedly said that since her country was "a major financial contributor" to the planned navigation system that it had to have preference in the awarding of contracts for the project. The EU plan calls for open tendering for the contracts.

See also: Galileo's Future Uncertain
Galileo to be Grounded?