23/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The chairman of the sub-committee on security and defence at the European Parliament, Karl von Wogau, reacted on Tuesday 20 March to Qatar's stated intention to become a stakeholder in the European aerospace and defence giant, EADS. According to Karl von Wogau, who does not state his views on the case of this Emirate specifically, this announcement must give rise to reflection on whether there should be European regulations on foreign participation in the European defence industry. The German Christian Democrat member stresses that control and surveillance regulations governing this kind of capital investment exist in some member states, but not everywhere. A European company like EADS is not subject to exclusive national control, which means there is a risk that it will end up escaping all control, explains Mr von Wogau, who recommends the use of Article 57.2 of the Treaty as a legal base for adopting European rules on the control of foreign investment in the defence sector. (oj)