On 15 October 2013 the “GALILEO 2.0” high-level round table – GSA the tool to implement the GALILEO satellite navigation programme” – took place at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The event was initiated by Mr Vittorio Prodi, the Chair of the Sky and Space Intergroup, to mark the increased interest and support in the GALILEO programme and underpin the increased role of the GALILEO Supervisory Authority (GSA) for preparing the application framework and developing the market, business and innovation.

UIC was represented by Mr George Barbu, Senior Adviser in the Rail System Department, responsible for the satellite navigation applications to rail and coordinator of the control-command and signalling sector. G. Barbu is also the coordinator of the EC SATLOC programme, the real scale operational train control and traffic control application with GNSS location of trains.

The Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Antonio Tajani expressed the determination of the European Commission to finalise GALILEO, which will be operational in 2015. The four already launched satellites prove the advanced design of GALILEO and confirm the system’s performances, reliability and robustness. GALILEO is progressing, GALILEO is here and we shall confine our applications to GALILEO. The European Space Agency and GSA will closely cooperate to deliver the programme and avoid delays and failures.

The members of the European Parliament fully support GALILEO and prioritise the funding of forthcoming actions aiming at providing Europe with the trustful, civil oriented and performing navigation infrastructure. In their speeches the EP members M. Marinescu, N. Glante and Jutta Haug declared that political support is now fully achieved.

Gard Ueland, the chairman of GALILEO services, explained that the system is not only a satellite navigation infrastructure, but a series of services in favour of innovative applications. Building the downstream market is already an advanced reality. GALILEO cannot miss the event.

During the discussion, UIC’s experience, expertise and technical role were highlighted. UIC currently demonstrates the viability of the new technology in the railway domain and will support the safety area by real scale applications (SATLOC), validation for rail of EGNOS and GALILEO signal in space and initiate the required standardisation process.