General Electric to cut 6,500 jobs in Europe

General Electric plans to cut 6,500 jobs in Europe over the next two years as it integrates Alstom’s energy units into its operations.

A spokesman for the company said the cuts include 765 roles in France, 1,700 in Germany and up to 660 in the UK.

“Any potential job that will be impacted in France will have to be replaced at the end of the period,” spokesman Renaud Petitjean told Bloomberg.

“These positions, if we cancel them, will have to be recreated in addition to the 1,000 we promised to create.”

The move follows the US giant’s €8.5bn acquisition of Alstom’s power business in November.