The European Commission looks set to call for taxpayers' money to prop up its collapsing Galileo satellite navigation project, which it hoped would rival America's GPS.

The Commission fears that Galileo is about to lose political support after serious delays and growing concern over the costs of the system. A private consortium supposed to be developing Galileo, including Britain's Inmarsat, fell apart several months ago amid political and financial rows.

The system, involving 30 satellites, was forecast to be in place by 2012 at a cost of €3.4 billion. However, some experts claim the cost will be far higher and many cannot see the point of duplicating the American service.

Now the Commission, admitting that private financing has failed, says Galileo could be boosted by "money that member states contribute to the European budget" – that is money supplied by taxpayers.

However, British taxpayers could escape if rumours are true that the project may be financed by Germany and France, where most of the work involved in the project will be carried out.

We must hope that is what happens, if Galileo is not abandoned altogether. If the French and Germans want it, let them pay for it.