Brussels, 08/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Union will be lodging its defence case on Friday against the appeal lodged by the United States at the World Trade Organisation on 15 November 2006 against the public aid granted to European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to launch new programmes (see Europe 9308). The Commission will attempt to justify the EU aid for Airbus criticised by the US. The first hearings in Geneva will be held on 20 - 21 March and the interim report by the WTO...