NEW YORK (AP) -- Spain is set to boost its participation in the France-based Airbus project, with an eye to a larger stake in the A380 superjumbo and in designing future generations of aircraft, the two countries' foreign ministers said Thursday. "Spanish industry is very important for Airbus and Spain aims to boost its participation in Airbus," said French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy at a press conference.Spain reportedly hopes to increase its 5.5 percent stake in European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) to 10 percent.
The French minister said that Airbus was the largest industrial cooperation project in Europe and it hoped to begin researching "tomorrow's aircraft" with increased Spanish participation.
Spanish Prime Minster Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and French President Jacques Chirac are to meet on Nov. 16 in the northeast Spain city of Gerona to discuss bilateral issues, the ministers said.