German Chancellor Angela Merkl and French President Nicholas Sarkozy met to discuss a big problem besetting Franco-German relations: the future of Airbus and its parent company. Both sides agree on a massive restructuring, and want to avoid factory closings and staff cuts.
M: Unidentified Man: (Speaking French)</s>ELEANOR BEARDSLEY: In a new streamlined operation, German Thomas Enders will take sole charge of Airbus while Frenchman Louis Gallois will become the only CEO of the EADS. The shakeup is meant to clarify leadership roles as Airbus closes plants and cuts 10,000 jobs over the next four years. Production delays in its A380 program have cost the company billions of dollars. While Merkel has said she wants to see EADS and Airbus led by corporate considerations rather than political ones, Sarkozy has shown a penchant for economic nationalism. But yesterday the French president had clearly come around.</s>NICOLAS SARKOZY: (Speaking French)</s>ELEANOR BEARDSLEY: For NPR News, I'm Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.