Brussels, 12/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Mario Monti was, on Friday afternoon, to meet Patrick Kron and Philippe Jaffré, Alstom's President and Director, in order to take stock of the company's needs in liquid assets. Spokesman Tilman Lueder specified that the decision would be taken between Commissioner Monti and the French government and that this was only a purely technical meeting with third parties. "Commissioner Monti will discuss the company's needs in liquid assets in order to have more information during the assessment with the French government of the short term liquidity that the group needs (…). The meeting will not result in a decision as a decision must be taken between the Member State and the Commission", the Spokesperson stressed. The Commission is therefore seeking a compromise to keep the company afloat, while complying with European rules. Next Wednesday, during the next weekly meeting of Commissioners, it should decide how appropriate it is to open an inquiry into participation by the French state in Alstom.