Bruno Le Maire, the French Finance Minister, expressed his dissatisfaction on Sunday 1 September with the Chinese CRRC group's desire to acquire the locomotive production business of the German company Vossloh; he also reiterated his disapproval of the Commission's refusal to allow the merger between Siemens and Alstom last February.
“I do not support a Europe that does not defend our interests”, he told EUROPE 1, referring to the Chinese company's plan to acquire new market shares inside the European Union.
Above all, the Minister once again denounced the Commission's rejection of the proposed merger between the French Alstom and German Siemens groups (see EUROPE 12188/1). “The example of Alstom/Siemens should be the flagship example of what should no longer be done”, criticized M. Le Maire.
Following this decision, Germany, France and Poland submitted a joint proposal for the revision of the EU competition rules (see EUROPE 12289/12), which takes into account, inter alia, the international market as a relevant market for the examination of a European merger. M. Le Maire will present this reform to the future 'von der Leyen' Commission.
Asked at a press conference on Monday 2 September about the comments of the French Minister, Lucia Caudet, Commission spokesperson, referred to the institution's reasoning in the Alstom/Siemens case, and stated that the market segments targeted for CRRC-Vossloh were different. If the latter move were to be seriously considered, it would have to be notified and given the green light by the European institution.
Last week, speaking to national ambassadors, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of adopting a “European strategy” to “build the Euro-Chinese partnership of the 21st century” and avoid China playing on internal European divisions. According to him, Europe made “profound mistakes” after the 2008 financial crisis, pushing “several states into forced privatisations, without a European option, and (by deciding) itself, methodically, to reduce its sovereignty by handing over many essential infrastructures in Southern Europe to the Chinese”. “Let us not continue on this path”, he warned.
By proposing the appointment of Sylvie Goulard to the 'von der Leyen' Commission, France would see the former liberal MEP holding the post of European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Industry.
At the end of March, the European Council asked the Commission to present, by the end of 2019, a long-term vision for a strong industrial policy for the European Union (see EUROPE 12220/3). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)