The thesis examines to what extend the European integration has driven the Airbus programme. Political and industrial stakeholders have often associated both in their discourses. A combined historical and social science approach determines the actual relationships in a Strategic Trade Policies perspective as defined by Paul Krugman. Despite their references to "Europe" the national policymakers havealways rejected any supranational domination of the programme. In practice they have nonetheless included static and dynamic gains such as synergies resulting from European science and technology initiatives, research programmes and Brussels-led negotiations into their decision-makings. The factors have shaped the Airbus venture. A first was the capacity of the state and industrial actors to anticipate world aerospace market trends and moves by the competitors. Permanent technological innovation has been the second. In the foreseeable future the technological leadership of Airbus remains unquestioned. Limited resources and changing geopolitics may prove challenges in the long-term.