BERLIN (AP) -- Defense officials from seven nations are to meet with representatives from contractor EADS in Berlin later this week for the next round of discussions over the future of the troubled Airbus military plane A400M, a German official said Tuesday.
The seven nations -- Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey -- and EADS officials will convene Thursday in hopes of reaching a compromise on the troubled plane, a spokesman from the German Defense Ministry said. He did not give his name in keeping with German government policy.
EADS is urging the participating nations to increase their funding for the four-engine turboprop, which officials say is now four years behind schedule and more than euro5 billion (US$7.3 billion) over budget.
Last week government envoys met on the issue in London. They said they wanted to stick to the project, but not at any price.
The A400M had its maiden flight last month in Spain. The program was launched six years ago with an order for 180 airplanes from the seven countries.
