The Diplomat
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, met yesterday at the Moncloa Palace with Airbus’ Chief Executive Officer, Guillaume Faury, whom he urged to “define a strategy” in Spain which allows “overcoming the crisis in the industry and protecting jobs”, and with whom he discussed “the need to give an adequate access to Spaniards” in Airbus’ management positions, taking into account SEPI’s participation in the company.
In the working meeting also took part Margarita Robles, Minister of Defense; Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; Pedro Duque, Minister of Science and Innovation; Manuel de la Rocha, Secretary General for Economic Affairs and G20 of the Presidency of the Government; Alberto Gutiérrez, Chairperson of Airbus España; Antoine Bouvier, Airbus’ Director for Strategy, M&A and Public Affairs; Amparo Moraleda, Airbus’ Board Member; and Jorge Domecq, the Company’s Director for Institutional Relations.
The meeting provided an opportunity to analyze Airbus’ global situation and future prospects. “The aerospace sector has suffered a pronounced reduction in activity, especially with a 35% drop in production of short-haul commercial aircraft and a 45% drop in long-haul aircraft, requiring support to overcome the crisis and reinforce its capacities to face the future”, according to Moncloa.
During the meeting, the Government and the company signed an important security agreement establishing a mechanism to protect the strategic technological assets developed by Airbus in Spain. Under this agreement, the government and the manufacturer will create a joint body that will meet once a year to promote Airbus projects in Spain, especially in the areas of defense and aerospace. “Both the Government and Airbus recognize the R&D&I policy as a key element to ensure that the aeronautical sector can overcome the crisis without losing market share and prepare a new generation of commercial aircraft with technology that will allow a more efficient and environmentally neutral aviation”. Moncloa said.
At the meeting, the Government reported on the measures underway to support the aeronautical sector, such as the Aeronautical Technology Plan (PTA), linked to the EU Recovery Funds and to be managed by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI); the launch of an Aerofondo endowed with one hundred million euros to support SMEs in the sector’s value chain; the creation of an Aerofondo endowed with one hundred million euros to support SMEs in the sector’s value chain; and the creation of an Aeronautical Support Fund to support the aviation sector; or the creation of a Fund for Supporting Productive Industrial Investment, endowed with 600 Million Euros in the General State Budget for 2021 and managed by SEPIDES – the industrial development division of the State Industrial Property Company (SEPI) – and whose purpose is to provide financial support for promoting investments of an industrial nature which contribute to favor industrial development and competitiveness.
Equally, according to Moncloa, the meeting was used for dealing with “the need for giving an adequate access to Spaniards in the company’s management positions”, taking into account that “SEPI is currently the owner of 4.16% of Airbus”, and for talking about the future of Airbus in Spain. In this regard, the Government pointed out the importance of “defining a strategy for the company in our country which makes it possible to overcome the current crisis in the industry, to develop the technological and industrial capabilities and to protect employment”.
