And its interests often coincide with those of DaimlerChrysler

Which doubts still, politico-industriels events of the month of may were allowed to decide the debate on the balance of forces between French and Germans in EADS. Long players passive, but attentive, of the decisions taken in Paris in the Office of Jean-Luc Lagardère, the DaimlerChrysler Germans are now in the manoeuvre. A reversal of the observable forces report since December 2004: for more than six months, the Germans had been alight the French before imposing the constitution of a Committee of management corresponding to their wishes. This rise was made possible by the outbreak of the French camp, after the "coup" of Noël Forgeard supported by the Government of the time.

Little interested in the Affairs of defence while seeking to preserve the heritage received from his father, Arnaud Lagardère decided less involved in the management of EADS and make decisions in the direction of its interests. And its interests often coincide with those of DaimlerChrysler. This objective alliance allows Manfred Bischoff, the co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, by Thomas Enders, the co-CEO, to impose his point of view in large files. Hence Sogerma case: while the conversion of the Bordeaux site is engaged for two years, DaimlerChrysler Noël Forgeard imposed the immediate closure of the plant. In full Clearstream case announcement sparked the anger of French policy against the group. But the game of cat and mouse, Arnaud Lagardère, who proved to be the most gifted, by announcing, after his impromptu meeting with the Prime Minister on 24 may, the maintenance of 500 jobs on-site. On condition, however, that the Ministry of Defence signed the famous the C130 fleet maintenance contract, awarded for several months to Sogerma.

The decision imposed by the men of Daimler is also justified by the will to clean up losses of EADS homes. In the centre of concerns: the delay taken by Airbus in the development of a successor to the A300 (this is the A350 project). A delay that some administrators blame, wrongly or rightly, to the will of Noël Forgeard to develop on a priority basis the A380. While the large carrier sales stagnate, Airbus is Boeing put the hand on the segment of medium-long mail with its new 787 and the B777. More préocupant: the technological advance acquired by Boeing with the 787 could launch as early as 2012, a new generation of mono corridors performance, including fuel consumption, while Airbus is not ready before 2016. In a single folder, Noël Forgeard has imposed his will: he decided to dismiss Jean-Louis Gergorin, entangled in L'affaire Clearstream (...)

After having wanted to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence, the Germans left to do: Noël Forgeard is indeed isolated, Jean-Louis Gergorin, the hierarchical responsibility of Tom Enders, being the principal interlocutor of the Germans. But they were already informed Jean-Paul Gut, the superior of Gergorin, that they wished that his position is assigned to a German, three other assistants of Gut being French. According to our information, Arnaud Lagardère would prefer that Virginie Banet (ex-Deutsche Bank), which has just hired to lead the mergers and acquisitions Department, rising in rank.