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The EADS European aeronautical group faced many difficulties in 2006, which were interpreted as a problem of governance. However, this interpretation is not sufficient. We propose two complementary explanations. One sees difficulties of governance as resulting from excessive distance and as being therefore of a geographic and relational nature. We use a definition of proximity with spatial and non-spatial dimensions in order to develop our argument. As regards geographic proximity, we distinguish between institutional and organizational proximity. The first is understood as relational availability, the second as conforming to as well as sharing institutions, while the third is seen as a specific form of the previous one, which articulates political and cognitive coordination. EADS's difficulties are interpreted mainly as the result of a lack of institutional proximity.