France says EU would be wrong to block Siemens-Alstom deal

PARIS (Reuters) - The European Commission would be making a mistake if it blocks the merger between Siemens's <SIEGn.DE> rail business and France's Alstom, <ALSO.PA> France's government's spokesman said on Wednesday.

"A rejection by the European Commission would be an economic mistake but also a political failure. It would send the wrong signal to the people of Europe at a time Europe... has failed to protect European citizens... its companies," government Benjamin Griveaux told reporters.

Antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager in December voiced doubts over the impact that the Franco-German deal would have on other high-speed train sector.

(Reporting by Michel Rose and Jean-Baptiste Vey; editing by Richard Lough)