The German company Siemens and French Alstom group, each with around eight billion euros in annual sales in their Zugsparten by far the largest European railway builders. The two companies wanted to merge their divisions for railway technology. The has says the European Commission.

“The company is willing to eliminate the major competition concerns of the Commission,” said competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in Brussels. In addition, the merger would have led, in their opinion, to higher prices for signal systems and high-speed trains.

Alstom announced according to the decision, according to the company message, the plans for the merger with Siemens. The decision of the EU Commission was a “clear setback for the industry in Europe”, informed the French company.

Siemens chief Joe Kaeser said, “we take the Commission’s decision, which puts the final point behind a European lighthouse project”. He may see in the upcoming European elections and the associated new governance in the EU “a unique opportunity to build a Europe of the future that can compete with a modern, common external economic policy, with the Best in the world.”

CDU wants to EU-law

CDU party boss Annegret Kramp-karrenbauer and Minister of economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier (CDU) argued for a Reform of European economic law. Together with France, would prepare an Initiative, “leading to a contemporary adaptation of European competition law,” said Altmaier. In the global competition with China and the United States, it is important that European industry sizes and can match. The decision of the EU Commission will encourage “us and encourage you to continue to work for such a solution,” said the CDU politician.