The Depeche du Midi reports today that the extended meeting of EADS and partner governments has ended (22 Jan) without an agreement. The paper also says that various proposals are still being investigated; the German position remains that they are still interested, but "not at any price" - similar to the UK position (my addition).
It's still expected that a mutually satisfactory agreement will be reached at "a further meeting" before the end of January.
La Depeche also points out that if, for example, Germany agreed to take fewer aircraft "up front" and more (at a different price) later, they would lose their preponderant position (60 aircraft) in the customer list. This, it is suggested, would not be politically accepted in Germany. (There was a suggestion earlier that the order for 60 was placed to ensure that "die Franzosen" didn't have the upper hand).
Meanwhile, we can look forward to more pics of the A400M airborne - hopefully while doing its slow speed trials, with perhaps even a firing of the "kick up the butt" rockets, though the situation would have to be pretty hair-raising if that happened.
23/1. Avweek reports today that a further meeting is set for Tuesday 26th ... the reports of problems within the German coalition government may mean that Fr. Dr. Merkel will have a hard time getting Cabinet/Parliamentary approval for whatever is decided. With GM cutting jobs at Opel, for example, and other industrial problems, further job losses would be hard to justify. But so would extra expense ...
What's the betting this will go down to the wire, as all concerned seem to be in their own private "rock and hard place" situation ?
