Brussels, 16/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The president of ASD (Aerospace and Defence Industries Association), PierFrancesco Guarguaglini, called on Thursday 15 April for a “strong partnership” with the public authorities at both national and European levels, in order to go beyond the current financial constraints (economic crisis and rate of exchange between euro and dollar), which are weighing down the aeronautics and defence sector. “The cost of developing radically new technology in our sector is too heavy for the industry alone to bear”, he said during a meeting with the European press. He pointed out that this was one of the most innovative and highly skilled industrial sectors of Europe, with a turnover of more than €135 billion.
In this context, Guarguaglini said he hoped the new European Commission would grant an “appropriate amount of attention” to the sector, not only in areas that come under transport but also with regard to research and innovation policy. In this respect, Guarguaglini said he hoped the 8th framework programme for research and development (FPRD) to be launched in 2014 would “continue to reflect the importance of our industries” in terms of “innovation potential” and support for research and development. Some €2.1 billion have been included in the current 7th framework programme for funding aeronautics projects. The 7th FPRD also provides for €1.4 billion to go to research on space and for €1.4 billion to go to research on security. The interoperability of the different modes of transport and security are priorities in the transport sector. Members of the ASD may, among other things, play a role in information system computerisation. The ASD has supported implementation of the Lisbon Treaty which, according to Guarguaglini, allows the EU to act more effectively as a “soft power”. He above all highlighted implementation of permanent structured cooperation (PSC) - a mechanism that gives member states that so wish and that meet the criteria the possibility of strengthening their cooperation in defence matters - an instrument whose real added value is still uncertain but which “leaves the door open to the creativity of member states” and brings the hope that these member states will express the “highest level of ambition”. Both Guarguaglini and the secretary general of the association, François Gayet, regretted that the permanent structured cooperation mechanism has not yet been finalised. “There are different approaches in different member states, which is a problem”, Gayet said, giving his assurance that the industry considers PSC as, “potentially”, a good way of fostering European cooperation and facilitating the funding of new programmes. “If the member states want to orchestrate their cooperation on bilateral or trilateral levels, why not? - but it is not EU anymore”, he said.
The ASD also argues in favour of better coherence between policies of the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU and NATO, especially, when it comes to research and development, and recommends greater coordination of responsibilities and governance between the European Council, the European Commission and the member states. It also hopes for: - a new cycle of investment involving security, space and defence at one and the same time; - best use of space systems as strategic means to facilitate development of autonomous EU decision-making; - greater coordination between the Commission, EDA and ESA in the field of research and exploration of civil and military synergies in research for duel purpose goods. (A.By./transl.jl)