The European Commission (EC) has added its voice to warnings over the nationalistic flavour of the French Government's aerospace industry restructuring in the wake of the Thomson-CSF decision.
"The European Commission does not commend the decision, as national restructuring is not a long-term solution," says Paul Weissenberg, chef de cabinet for EC industry commissioner Martin Hangman. His remarks, made at the EC's Conference on Industrial Technologies at Toulouse from 27-30 October, represent a rebuff in Brussels diplomatic language.
"We have to go European-any more delay will further jeopardise the future of European aerospace," he warns. The comments are aimed at the decision to create a purely French coalition around the Thomson-CSF defence-electronics business, selecting a bid from Alcatel/Dassault in preference to the overtly European solution proposed by Lagardère. He adds that the French Government's 40% holding in the new grouping "-may prove difficult" for other European partners to accept.
Only weeks before the decision, Bangemann issued a paper on European restructuring which contained stark warnings on the dangers of "narrow" nationalism and state ownership. Weissenberg also warns that, while joint ventures are "-more than a first step, they do not eliminate duplication and have inherent disadvantages". An action plan is being drawn up by industry and will be "-adopted very soon, favouring integration, civil and military", he says.
Airbus president Jean Pierson appeared to support the EC's view in his keynote address, saying that "-industrialists, for once, are lagging the politicians".
Source: Flight International