European Commissioners Gunter Verheugen, Jacques Barrot and Peter Mandelson have hailed unveiling of the new Airbus A380…
European Commissioners Gunter Verheugen, Jacques Barrot and Peter Mandelson have hailed unveiling of the new Airbus A380 in Toulouse as a European success story. The development of the A380, the world`s largest passenger jet, shows what Europe can achieve by working together and by investing in skills, research and technology. In a series of initiatives over the last 15 years, the Commission has worked consistently to develop an EU wide regulatory and research framework. Industrial cooperation in the EU is crucial for the success of new aerospace products in an intensively competitive global market.
Commission Vice-President Gunter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and Industry said The Super-Airbus demonstrates that working together in the EU pays off. It also shows that with the right policy framework EU industry can perform even in the most fiercely competitive and high-tech businesses. We must extend this approach to all aerospace issues.
Vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for Transport added The A380 opens a new chapter in the aerospace industry. It will bring the benefits of air travel to many more people. The A-380 is a symbol of what Europe can achieve by working together.
Referring to the EU-US agreement to launch negotiations on government support affecting Airbus and its American competitor Boeing, EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson, said: I am glad that the EU and the US have been able to agree a way forward. This agreement creates a positive atmosphere for more work to strengthen the economic partnership between the EU and the US, which is vital for both of us. The A380 shows that Airbus is clearly capable of competing in a global marketplace. This is a cutting-edge aeroplane from a cutting-edge European company.
The role of the European Commission in aerospace
The European Commission has had a growing involvement in aerospace issues since the mid 1980`s. As the European aerospace industry has undergone major restructuring in recent years and is increasingly organised on a continental scale, the Commission has made strenuous efforts to adapt the policy framework to cope with these new structures.
The Commission`s actions focus on the full range of issues affecting aerospace, including; industrial policy, trade relations, research programmes, transport policy and environmental measures.
- As far as governance of civil aviation is concerned, the European Aviation Safety agency recently began working in its permanent Cologne headquarters and rapid progress is being made towards the completion of the Single European Sky
- In space, alongside progress on GALILEO, the Commission, together with the European Space Agency, is developing a European Space Programme which is expected to be operational by 2007
- In the security and defence field, the Commission is building effective working relationships with the new European Defence Agency. It is also working on improving the functioning of the European defence equipment market.
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