On the day that France takes over the ever-rotating EU Presidency, claiming it wants a 'revolution in space policy', the procurement process for the Galileo navigation satellite network has begun...again.

The European Commission is setting aside more than two billion
euros to build 26 satellites (down from the originally intended 30-satellite constellation), buy launch rockets and set up the ground
control centres.

Companies inside and outside the EU are being asked to declare their interest.

The commission's partner, the European Space Agency, will run
the procurement contest with the aim of Galileo being fully operational
by 2013.

Among other plans France has for the future direction of European space development are missions to the Moon and to Mars.

For more information on the Galileo procurement process, read BBC News.

For more on the Fench spage agenda, read BBC News.