Yet with two weeks left, EADS and BAE have little incentive to seek an extension to the deadline.

Softening the deadline would ease pressure on Europe’s politicians to come to an agreement acceptable to the companies while placating U.S. and UK fears of political interference.

For these reasons, experts say a bid for an immediate extension is unlikely unless there is progress. But if there is stalemate running up to the deadline, leaders of both companies could play hardball and decide to abandon the plan.

“It’s normal that different points of view are expressed. Especially in an operation where states have strategic interests to preserve,” Bregier told Les Echos.

“This kind of operation requires rapid decisions and it’s not EADS or BAE management pushing, it’s the markets and the clients, who want to know what the future of the group will be,” he said adding that the current merger plan included guarantees to the United States covering its security concerns.

INFLUENCE AND TRADE-OFFS

The merger to create the world’s biggest defense and aerospace company would dilute the influence of the French, German and Spanish governments in the company, prompting negotiations over their roles in the future.

German reservations include how to safeguard jobs and protect the merged firm from any future hostile takeover, a government document obtained by Reuters on Monday showed.

On Wednesday, a French government source said France would want to retain certain rights, as well.