Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury urged France and the European Union to address high regulatory costs and weak competitiveness, calling European regulatory barriers 'absolutely horrible' during the opening of a new assembly line in Toulouse.
The comments highlight significant concerns about European industrial competitiveness and regulatory burdens, potentially impacting future investment and growth within the region's key sectors.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has called on France and the European Union to address the high costs of regulation, labor, and energy that are impacting businesses. Speaking at the inauguration of a new A321neo assembly line in Toulouse, Faury described the cost of European regulatory barriers as 'absolutely horrible' and stressed the need for improved competitiveness.
Faury suggested that the issue of business competitiveness should be a central theme in the upcoming French presidential election. The new assembly line, located in a former A380 facility, is intended to support Airbus's ramp-up to producing 75 narrow-body aircraft per month by 2028 and is expected to employ around 700 staff.
The Airbus chief's remarks reflect broader concerns among European industry leaders regarding taxes and excessive regulation, highlighting the challenges faced by European businesses in a global market. He noted that Europe is too slow and not conscious of the enormous challenges to its industries when compared to the U.S. or China.