According to , Galileo "services include a freely available open service, for use in in-car navigation systems, for example; a public regulated service, for first responders such as police and ambulance; a search and rescue service, for maritime emergencies, among others; a safety of life service, for aviation; and a fee-based commercial service, for mapping and surveying providers, for example."

Galileo, which should be certified and ready to use in 2015, is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Space Agency, and one of the largest space projects ever conducted in Europe.