According to Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, the merger would have harmed competition in markets for railway signalling systems and very high-speed trains, while at the same choking off fair competition which would lead to higher prices for passengers.
Vestager added that the Commission’s decision to nix the deal was made because “the companies were not willing to address our serious competition concerns”.
“If companies want to merge they can do so if they offer remedies just like Siemens and Alstom should have done,” said Vestager, who added, “We tested the remedy package in a market test and got very negative feedback.”
The Commission would not accept the offer that was put forward due to the special nature of this mostly tender-driven market.
Full article available: https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eu-commission-blocks-siemens-alstom-deal-amid-competition-concerns/