Editing Alstom (section)

==== Attempted merger with Siemens Mobility ====
On 26 September 2017, Alstom announced a proposal to merge with [[Siemens Mobility]], the rolling stock division of German conglomerate [[Siemens]]; this merger was promoted as the creation of "a new European champion in the rail industry".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2017/09/siemens-and-alstom-join-forces-to-create-a-european-champion-in-mobility/ |title=Siemens and Alstom join forces to create a European Champion in Mobility |date=26 September 2017 |website=Alstom.com |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062435/http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2017/09/siemens-and-alstom-join-forces-to-create-a-european-champion-in-mobility/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The combined rail business, which was to have been reportedly named ''Siemens Alstom'' and headquartered in Paris, would have $18 billion U.S. in revenue and employ 62,300 people in more than 60 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/09/26/european-railway-manufacturers-siemens-and-alstom-confirm-merger-deal.html |title=European railway manufacturers Siemens and Alstom confirm merger deal |last=Marowits |first=Ross |date=26 September 2017 |work=The Toronto Star |language=en-CA |issn=0319-0781 |archive-date=10 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062226/https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/09/26/european-railway-manufacturers-siemens-and-alstom-confirm-merger-deal.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During November 2018, the European Commission voiced its concerns surrounding the proposed merger of the two companies, particularly that the combined entity would be too dominant in the European market; alleged impacts from such dominance included potential increases in passenger fares and cargo fees. Furthermore, a series of [[Protests against Emmanuel Macron|popular protests]] concerning the financial reforms of both the French territorial railway infrastructure and [[SNCF]] occurred.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/alstom-siemens-merger-eu-slams-plans/ |title=EU slams Alstom-Siemens rail mega-merger plans |last1=Larger |first1=Thibault |date=13 November 2018 |work=Politico |last2=Oroschakoff |first2=Kalina |archive-date=13 November 2018 |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113230941/https://www.politico.eu/article/alstom-siemens-merger-eu-slams-plans/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The proposed merger was viewed by some as a measure to counter the rise of rival [[China|Chinese]] rail business [[CRRC]]; it reportedly received support from many figures within both the French and German governments.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Altmeyer|first=Alexander Hübner, Cyril|date=2017-09-27|title=Alstom, Siemens to merge rail businesses to counter China's CRRC|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alstom-siemens-stocks-idUSKCN1C10PG|access-date=2021-09-19}}</ref> The transaction, which was originally due to close by the end of 2018, was met with opposition by French trade union officials who voiced their concerns that such a merger would have the potential for job losses.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alstom-siemens-unions/french-trade-unions-voice-opposition-to-alstom-siemens-tie-up-deal-idUSKBN1FJ1RI |title=French trade unions voice opposition to Alstom/Siemens tie-up deal |date=30 January 2018 |work=Reuters |archive-date=10 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120951/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alstom-siemens-unions/french-trade-unions-voice-opposition-to-alstom-siemens-tie-up-deal-idUSKBN1FJ1RI |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 July 2018, Alstom shareholders overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger with Siemens.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/news/alstom-shareholders-approve-siemens-merger/ |title=Alstom shareholders approve Siemens merger |last=Senese |first=Kyra |date=18 July 2018 |work=Railway Age |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2018 |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722070139/https://www.railwayage.com/news/alstom-shareholders-approve-siemens-merger/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 February 2019, the planned merger between the two companies was vetoed by the European Commission.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6e344f6a-29fd-11e9-88a4-c32129756dd8/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/6e344f6a-29fd-11e9-88a4-c32129756dd8/ |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=EU blocks planned Siemens-Alstom rail deal in landmark decision |last=Toplensky |first=Rochelle |date=6 February 2019 |work=Financial Times |language=en}}</ref> In response to this ruling, Alstom's Chief Executive Officer Henri Poupart-Lafarge stated that he viewed the decision to block the merger was a result of "ideological prejudices".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-02-06/alstom-and-siemens-show-how-not-to-deal-with-china-and-vestager |title=Alstom and Siemens Show How Not to Deal With China |last=Fickling |first=David |date=6 February 2019 |work=Bloomberg |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2019 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206230737/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-02-06/alstom-and-siemens-show-how-not-to-deal-with-china-and-vestager |url-status=live }}</ref>