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 arbitration panel appointed to settle the dispute will be published early in September 2007.
The EU is preparing another set of arguments in the case it has lodged against the United States appealing against state aid for US aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The Commission is expected to lodge its case with the WTO on 22 March 2007. While both sides claim to want to see if they can settle the controversial disputes out of court, they have not yet actually started talking. (eh)