Mark Hendrick (UK, PES) unveiled the Aerospace and Defence Regional Initiative and Network in Europe (ADRIANE) this month, a new move designed to address the future challenges facing Europe's civilian and military aerospace industry. The three objectives of ADRIANE outlined in its strategy document are:
networking, increased co-operation and exchange of information between interested parties,
safeguarding current employment as well as the creation of future jobs in the aerospace industry,
the development of new European technologies.
The strategy document goes on to say that, despite the opportunities created by the single market, there are only a few projects, such as Eurofighter and Airbus, where aerospace companies can be found working together at a European level and that the future of the industry in Europe is dependent on this kind of co-operation on a bigger scale. Similar co-operation with US manufacturers should not be discouraged on the understanding that European companies do not end up becoming the junior partner in any such undertakings. The ADRIANE initiative is designed to include players from business, trade unions, research bodies, training organisations and universities with a view to ensuring its long term success. The problems facing the European aerospace manufacturers are substantial.
Since 1984, 100,000 jobs were lost in the industry. There is a growing recognition that, in order to survive in the tough world market, demonstrated by the recent McDonnell Douglas/Boeing merger, there is now a need to promote more contact between the various European aerospace industries and, in particular, those of small and medium size. This conforms with the Treaty of Maastricht's long-term aim of a European common foreign and security policy.
Chairing the meeting, Mr Hendrick emphasised the need to "increase the competitiveness of the European aerospace and defence industries by promoting co-operation. This is vital to counter the competition we face from the United States. ADRIANE is also expected to have a strong role in reversing the decline in employment in this sector." he said.
A new steering committee has been set up in order to organise and provide the necessary management for the project and its first meeting will be in October. The Future Large Aircraft (FLA) project which involves the participation of six European countries in a newly integrated company, Airbus Military Company, a subsidiary of Airbus Industry, is an example of what can be achieved at a European level. The project identified Europe's need for a long range aircraft in the post cold war world. Apart from the estimated 35,000 jobs which have been created by the FLA project, Andrew Lewis, the FLA's commercial director, wished to draw attention to the fact that "the aerospace industry is in a position to provide a European product to cater for European needs at a competitive price".