Brussels, 17/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday Europeans and Americans met again in Brussels for "very technical" consultations on aid to aeronautic construction and to resume talks on the affiar of the Airbus against Boeing, which last year threatened to turn towards a trade dispute. "this meeting has nothing to do with the FSC, nor with steel", said a European Commission spokesperson, referring to the dispute over American tax assistance for exports that the Union has just won and the threat of a surtax on European steel exports to America. This session was but a stage in the consultations provided for by the 19912 Transatlantic Agreement on public aid to the construction of large capacity civilian aircraft. The heads of units concerned in the Commission and their American counterparts essentially had an exchange of information that began last year, following Washington's upping the stakes against the A380, planned large carrier that could help airbus maintain the advantage it recently gained over its rival Boeing, by positioning itself in a segment that was so far held by the American constructor. At the last transatlantic Summit in which he took part, President Clinton himself attacked public aid for this European super-jumbo jet, warning that a "procedure could soon be triggered in Geneva", to which the Commission replied by promising to be the "shield of Airbus", accusing Washington of subsidising Boeing. The two sides nevertheless agree on one thing: public assistance is a necessity in this sector.