Brussels, 20/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - After a meeting with the Spanish secretary of state for industry, Teresa Santero, the British secretary of state for trade, Mark Prisk, and the German secretary of state responsible for aeronautics policy, Peter Hintze, on the sidelines of the Farnborough Air Show held on Tuesday 20 July, the French minister for transport, Dominique Bussereau, confirmed the commitment taken in favour of Airbus - the European aircraft manufacturer held by Germany, Spain, France and the United Kingdom - to continue payment of reimbursable aid to that company. This comes three weeks after the WTO verdict on the United States' complaint against public aid to Airbus (EUROPE 10172). “Despite the conclusions reached by the WTO, we confirm our commitment to Airbus. The principle of reimbursable subsidies does not run counter to WTO rules”, Bussereau told the press, giving his assurance that the governments of the four EU member states concerned will continue their support programme. France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain pledge to make reimbursable aid available to Airbus of €1.4 billion, €1.12 billion, £340 million (€402 million) and €332 million respectively for the development of its latest long haul aircraft, the A350. This aircraft is a direct rival to the latest aircraft of the American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, the 787 Dreamliner, which made its international debut in Farnborough. The cost of developing the A350 is estimated at €11 billion. It is to be delivered to airlines as of 2013. (E.H./transl.jl)