Germany says Siemens-Alstom deal to help European rail industry compete

The German government views a proposed merger of France's Alstom and Siemens' rail business as important for securing the competitiveness of the European rail industry, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday.

But he also said it was the European Commission's responsibility to review the antitrust implications of the Franco-German deal.

France on Wednesday said a decision by the commission to block the merger would be a mistake. Antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager voiced doubts in December about the impact of the merger on other high-speed trains.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke Writing by Andrea Shalal)