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The European View column was launched in 2004 to provide sharp comment and pithy judgments on the corporate, business and financial issues of the moment across the continent.

Regular contributors to European View include Paul Betts.

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Could Suzuki provide VW’s magic number?

A deal with the Japanese company would help resolve the German group’s Achilles heel and move it closer to Ferdinand Piëch’s aim of controlling 12 brands

Capello’s masterclass for on-the-ball Finmeccanica

Fabio Capello, the England football manager, gave the Italian defence group Finmeccanica a masterclass on leadership, but he might have asked its boss Pier Francesco Guarguaglini for some tips on how to creep up on the opposition and walk away with the main prize

No surprise ending in the Areva T&D pantomime

France might already have chosen a winner in the sale of the power group, but it is by no means the only state to indulge in patriotic protectionism

France risks an electric shock over pay focus

There has been a small revolution over a pay award to Henri Proglio, France’s newest servant, who has just taken over at EDF, the government-controlled utility

Aerospace industry is flying turbulent course

The industry seems to be heading for greater turbulence as there are already too many planes in the sky and far too many new planes on the manufacturers’ order books

Lombard pulls Swiss rabbit from his hat

Didier Lombard has not let a spate of distractions keep his eye off maintaining France Telecom’s place in the pack

Sportsmanship loses out in America’s Cup

Yachting’s oldest international contest is still dominated by tycoons but of a totally different ilk and with little regard, it seems, for sportsmanship

Are Swiss bankers going to turn into tax collectors?

Patrick Odier, the new chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association, has certainly wasted little time in setting the cat among the pigeons in the traditionally arcane world of private Swiss banking, urging his fellow private bankers to consider making a radical change in the industry’s model, with ‘tax honesty’ becoming the new mantra

Ferrero boys should stay cool as Cadbury talk hots up

With the group in the spotlight over a possible bid for Cadbury it should remember that a benefit of being a successful private company lies in controlling one’s own destiny

Vivendi’s turbulent party picks up a guest in Brazil

There seems to be a party atmosphere at Vivendi these days – at least according to one veteran director who says of sitting on the French entertainment and telecoms conglomerate’s board: “C’est du fun.” And the company is now taking the party to Brazil

France’s new generation seeks to make its own mark

Hand-finished jumbo is a luxury too far for Airbus

Peugeot cannot remain a French bachelor for ever

HAL holds key to Safilo vision

Defensive logic propels M&A revival

Crédit Agricole chief brings banking industry to book

Essilor keeps its eye on long-term global vision

Jumbo problems hit France’s nuclear ambitions

French upstart takes on the mobile telecom goliaths

Trouble is brewing for the beer industry in Russia