Change of status of Galileo project from civil to military purpose

Dear Sir or Madam,

IN a debate in the House of Commons on 19 Jan 2005, reported at
Column 303WH of Hansard
(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...),
Mr. Ingram speaking on behalf of the Government stated:
"On Galileo, let me just say that it will be a civil system, under
civil control. That has been confirmed by successive EU Transport
Councils. The UK has emphasised that that should remain the case.
In December, as the hon. Lady correctly pointed out, the Transport
Council stated that any decision to alter the civil status of
Galileo would have to be agreed unanimously by member states under
pillar 2 of the EU treaty. That is the constitutional structure
under which Galileo exists. It is quite clear that what we have
laid down with our NATO partners will protect the integrity of that
system. The global positioning system, not Galileo, is currently
the basis of NATO operations, and will remain so into the future.
Galileo will be a civil system. That has been expressed time and
again in the Chamber and elsewhere."

Recent reports
(http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_stor...) on
proceedings in the European Parliament suggest that Galileo is to
be given military purpose.

I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please would you provide the following information:

(a) had the EU Transport Council unanimously agreed to alter the
civil status of Galileo as required under pillar 2 of the EU
treaty;

(b) if it has agreed to a change of status, at what what meeting(s)
was this agreement reached;

(c) for any meeting(s) referred to in your response to (b) above,
please will you either identify the web page at which the record of
the meeting is published in English, or provide an electronic copy
of the record of the meeting(s);

(d) provide an electronic copy of any briefings regarding Galileo
provided to Ministers or officials attending the meeting(s)
referred to in (b) above;

(e) please will you either identify the web page at which it is
published in English, or provide an electronic copy of, any
official announcement from the Commission of a change in status
based on a decision by member states.

Yours faithfully,

John Brown