The EU’s competition authorities have rejected a merger of the Zugsparten of the ICE-manufacturer, Siemens, and the TGV producer Alstom. The governments in Berlin and Paris are likely to the annoy.
To further separate the French TGV and the German ICE
The large-scale project of the “Airbus of the Rail” is from the table: The EU-Commission, the high-sounding plans of the German Siemens and French Alstom-group crosses. The merger would restrict competition in the European internal market, for example, in high-speed trains, said the Brussels authority. Already in the run-up to the EU had expressed Commission concerns that the transaction could harm, ultimately, to the consumers. The company had not been ready, “the significant competition concerns, the Commission’s competition concerns,” said competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager the decision.
Margrethe Vestager: “significant competition concerns”
The German company Siemens and French Alstom-group had agreed on a year, your sectors of railway technology and to create a European large-scale railway group. Siemens should get in the business, a slim majority of the industry heavy weight, the should take it, especially with the competition from China. The Chinese train manufacturer CRRC is the world number One, playing in Europe, but not yet.
France speaks of an error
The French economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, criticized the Veto of the EU-Commission sniper and called the decision of the TV channel France 2 is a “mistake”.
Is upset: Bruno Le Maire
You weakness in Europe and serve “the economic and industrial interests of China,” said Le Maire. Without the merger, Alstom and Siemens would have on the world market, the same weight as the Chinese competition.
As before, CDU Boss Annegret Kramp-karrenbauer, spoke to Le Maire for a Reform of European competition law. He spoke of “outdated rules that need to be re-written”. To do this, he will make with the Federal Economics Minister, Peter Altmaier, in brief, are the proposals, announced Le Maire.
“No privileges for political reasons”
Both the Federal government and the French government had made for the merger. Federal Economics Minister, Peter Altmaier, about called for European “Champions”, to compete in the international competition. In his on Tuesday presented to the industrial strategy, he stresses, it is of concern that, in Germany, hardly any new large companies would have to bear.
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker had held, contrary to, well, European companies could compete in the world market of wool, however, the Commission will grant never for political reasons advantages of. There is no shortage of talent in Europe. “Our Job is to ensure that they could develop their potential,” said Juncker. The competition authorities would have more than approved 6000 mergers, less than 30 blocks, he said.
cw/sti (dpa, afp, rtr)