EADS was built around shared values of integrity and social and ethical responsibility. Although 2006 has not been an easy year for EADS, events within the Company having caused stakeholders to ask critical questions about the management and the organisational structure, the Group’s strengths and achievements are not to be underestimated. EADS is determined to fulfilling its commitment to a sustainable and balanced relationship with stakeholders. Ensuring customer satisfaction, as well as ensuring development of employee and supplier relationships remains a foundation of EADS’ success, operations and culture. The entire Group remains committed to the principles and values that are laid down in its Code of Ethics as well as to the Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) policies which were formalised in 2004.

The EADS approach to CSR takes into account the Group specificities:

• It provides a framework setting out guidelines for the BUs that are responsible for the day to day business and that ensures dialogue with their direct stakeholders.
• It addresses the EADS CSR key challenges such as export control compliance: As a defence company, EADS Group specifically acknowledges its responsibility in selling defence products and providing services to nations that contribute to their security during peace time. EADS delivers products and integrated solutions pursuant to customer specification. These products have to comply with the applicable laws put in place by the responsible government (arms export laws, embargo rules, Ottawa agreement, and anticorruption policy).
• It incorporates the specific nature of the Group products, such as the average lifecycle of over 30 years which requires a continuous long-term approach.

The present chapter aims at demonstrating that the EADS CSR policies are increasingly incorporated into the daily business, by describing best practices identified throughout the Group and reporting performance indicators. A number of quantitative and qualitative Key Performance Indicators (“KPI”), based upon the Global Reporting Initiative, the Global Compact principles and the French Nouvelles Régulations Économiques and tailored to EADS’ business were indeed defined starting with the 2004 report and reflect some of EADS CSR achievements.