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The French government added that the deal would also ensure "the projection of the strategic interests of national defense." France, along with Britain, is the biggest military power in Western Europe. Besides its Airbus civilian aircraft business, EADS is also a major player in military contracting
-- with products and stakes in projects like the Ariane-5 satellite launcher, Meteor missile systems, the Eurofighter and the A400M military transporter. German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler, of the pro-business Free Democrats party, said a reduced government role in EADS
-- which employs about 50,000 people in Germany -- was "excellent news." "While 50 percent of the company's shares are today directly or indirectly attributed to the three involved states, the states' stake will shrink to below 30 percent in the future," he said, even as the deal maintains French-German balance. "The agreement also shows that big European projects can be carried out in close partnership also in these for Europe difficult times."
[Associated
Press;
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