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EADS: Go-Ahead for A400M Confirms Germany's Resolve to Develop a European Defence Market

Munich, 20 March 2002

EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company welcomes the decision by the German Parliament's budget committee to give the go-ahead for the A400M programme.

The Chief Executive Officers of EADS, Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, commented on this decision, saying: "We are pleased that the budget committee has now given its approval for the A400M." This provides further clear proof that there is a broad political consensus on the necessity for Germany to procure 73 military transport aircraft and on the European A400M programme in general. "Much too little notice was taken of this political consensus during the discussions of the past weeks, but precisely for this reason we have always been convinced that the decision would be in favour of the programme," stated Hertrich and Camus.

For the two CEOs of EADS the A400M decision also sends out a clear signal for the development of a European defence market. "The A400M represents a breakthrough on the way to a joint European security and defence policy A genuine European defence market will now arise in the area of military transport aircraft. If we Europeans pool our efforts, also in the field of defence technology we will be able to develop and manufacture globally competitive products which can be offered to the armed forces at attractive prices," the two EADS CEOs explained.

Camus and Hertrich also emphasised that the A400M programme will have a direct positive impact on the development of the European aeronautical industry and its competitive position worldwide.

EADS now expects that the European organisation for joint armament cooperation OCCAR will very shortly inform the industry that the agreement signed in Brussels on 18 December 2001 will now take effect.

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