"We have invited for next Friday the highest representatives from General Motors Europe and Detroit. We hope that the COO from Detroit will be coming," spokesman Ton van Lierop was quoted as saying by just-auto.com.
The meeting is a response to GM's rescue plan, submitted last month, through which the company asked 3.3 billion euros aid. The plan didn't resonate as hoped by the manufacturer with European governments, including the outspoken Merkel cabinet.
The meeting was called for by European Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who said "member states where we have GM sites in Europe should hold an extraordinary meeting and reflect on the way we want to react."
The meeting will be held on Friday with the participation of economy and industry minister from 27 European Union countries, as well as envoys from other concerned parties, such as suppliers.
"I would like to know what the different member states that have GM sites are considering doing," Verheugen added. The commissioner would like all parties involved in the matter to act as one, and not each for himself.
But the German chancellor Angela Merkel stepped outside this official "desire" and delivered a blow to the GM run Opel, saying the company is not vital to the German economy. "We'll help if the positives for everyone outweigh the negatives. The plan still needs to be improved and clarified," the chancellor was quoted as saying by Reuters.
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