The Toulouse area is concerned about the future of the aeronautics sector.

The Mayor of Toulouse, Pierre Cohen, and the presidents of the regional authorities, Martin Malvy and Pierre Izard, met French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde yesterday and expressed “deep worries” about the future of the aeronautics sector. In a letter to Prime Minister Francois Fillon, they urged the State to create an industry monitoring group, under the government’s authority. Mr Cohen also told the press that they could not “accept as a fatality the differences of treatment between the French and German industries from the part of EADS”. For Mr Malvy, following the failure of negotiations with Latecoere, the Airbus sites in Saint-Nazaire and Meaulte face the risk of being regrouped into a subsidiary then sold off to foreign investors. He also pointed at the selection of US-based Spirit AeroSystems as a partner for the A350 XWB programme as a source of concerns. During her visit to Toulouse, Ms Lagarde announced the appointment of Michel Bernard as expert for employment, challenges and strategies in the aeronautics sector. “Mr Bernard will hand over first proposals as early as July, then concrete proposals in September”, said the minister. AFP (19/05), Reuters (19/05), Aujourd’hui en France, La Correspondance Economique, 20 Minutes (19/05), Metro (19/05)