FRENCH PRIME MINISTER DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN SAID WEDNESDAY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD ACT TO REASSURE CLIENTS OF THE TROUBLED EUROPEAN AEROSPACE CONSORTIUM EADS OVER DELAYS IN DELIVERY OF THE AIRBUS A380 SUPERJUMBO AIRCRAFT, DPA REPORTED. THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT WILL "TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES SO THAT EADS CAN GIVE ASSURANCES OVER PRODUCTION DELAYS AND SUPPLY ITS CUSTOMERS UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS," VILLEPIN TOLD DEPUTIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. "THERE ARE URGENT DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN," HE SAID. "THEY WILL BE." VILLEPIN'S DECLARATIONS CAME AFTER THE EADS SHARE PRICE LOST MORE THAN A QUARTER OF ITS VALUE LAST WEEK FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY ITS SUBSIDIARY AIRBUS THAT DELIVERY OF THE A380 WOULD BE DELAYED BY SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS. EARLIER WEDNESDAY, A GROUP REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF SMALL SHAREHOLDERS SAID IT WAS SUING EADS BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK'S PLUNGE IN THE FIRM'S SHARE PRICE, AND DEMANDING THAT ITS LEADERSHIP STEP DOWN.
