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Mr. President,
Commission Vice-President,
Honorable Members of the Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Aviation Branch as High Technology
I am happy to see that we are debating on the "Future of the European Aircraft Industry" today. For this branch embodies genuine viability for the future, high technology, and growth potentials for Europe. And it contributes importantly to meeting the targets of the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment. Airbus is the most prominent project in this connection.
Airbus stands for a magnificent idea. It is the idea of combining the technological capabilities of several European nations and creating a strong aircraft industry that can hold its own on the world market. Airbus is already a breathtaking success story. The aircraft it produces - 4,600 have been delivered to date - display European high technology at every airport in the world. Airbus is thus making an important contribution to European identity.
But Airbus also has its problems. In 2006 there was a sequence of success and crisis at the company. On the one hand, Airbus was the "Number One" on the world market that year - quite a success! On the other side, there was a massive drop in the company's profits as the result of extensive delivery delays with the A 380 - its new large-capacity aircraft. And problems were also caused by the weak dollar! Airbus is produced in Euros and sold in dollars. Furthermore, the development gap of the A 350 XWB to the American 787 Dreamliner has to be narrowed.
Aircraft engineering is being revolutionized and is about to enter a new technological era; we are moving from the metal age into the age of synthetics. That was recognized in the United States sooner than in Europe. The market wants to see these new types of aircraft. And Airbus wants to acquire new strength. The company must boost its competitiveness and ensure it meets the challenges of the future. For only a constant process of new efforts paired with the willingness and capability for innovation can provide a guarantee for the future.
Airbus is about to be restructured. And although the interest of policymakers is strong, the restructuring process is the responsibility of the company itself. The management of Airbus will be well advised to discuss the necessary measures with its employees in an intensive dialogue. The employees are a company’s most important asset, after all. An opportunity for greater job security can be provided by attracting strong industrial partners who bring with them their own capital and know how. But the decision on this lies with the company alone.
Policymakers are responsible for setting the framework. And they should make sure that a fair balance of opportunities and burdens prevails among the participating European nations. We are talking here about jobs and technological capabilities. The fair sharing of opportunities and burdens among France, Spain, the UK, and Germany seems to be successful.
But there are also a number of other European projects such as the Eurofighter, Eurocopter, and Agusta Westland. Here, too, we have been able to achieve cross border cooperation in the interest of utilizing the technological capabilities of the individual partners and developing and producing competitive products.
However, European cooperation takes place not only at the level of systems producers. In the face of increasing global competition and rising technological complexities it is also found at the level of the suppliers and engine manufacturers such as Thales, Diehl, Rolls-Royce, MTU, Snecma, Alenia and others - to name but a few. All of these companies and their employees are helping to solidly position the European aircraft industry in the ever tougher international competition.
Sustainable Air Transport as a European Challenge
Finally, I would like to say a few words on climate protection and environmental compatibility. Climate protection and environmental compatibility are demands that will have to be met by our society's innovation skills. Europe's aviation industry began facing up to this technological challenge back in the year 2000. In the Vision 2020 program, decision makers from industry, science, and government have jointly defined ambitious goals to meet the challenges of a sustainable aviation system. Thus, by the year 2020
To attain these ambitious goals in little more than a decade, the common efforts of all involved are needed.
Thank you!
