Bad Brexit Deal Would Be Worse Than No Deal: France's Loiseau

(Bloomberg) -- Another Brexit deal or a “bad one would be worse” for Europeans than having no-deal in place, France’s EU Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said on RTL Radio, as the U.K. debates the final arrangements ahead of the March 29 deadline for leaving the bloc.

Loiseau reiterated France’s pledge to put the interests of the European Union and its national economic and social interests ahead of the U.K.’s, in a process that would lead to the island’s split from the continent.

The French minister separately called for the EU to approve the Siemens-Alstom rail merger as a way for the combined company to take on competition from China. “We will try to convince” the EU commission, she said, as the EU’s executive arm is expected to issue its decision on Tuesday, the radio said.

She reiterated France’s call to change EU policies on mergers and competition inside the bloc, to be more relevant amid global competition.

To contact the reporter on this story: Helene Fouquet in Paris at hfouquet1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alan Crawford at acrawford6@bloomberg.net, Steve Geimann

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