Opel can be a model for Europe

The US carmarker General Motors is not trying to hinder the rescue of its European activities but the future of Opel remains uncertain, the business paper De Tijd writes: "Unlike the US, Germany doesn't want a share in Opel's capital. It's willing to give support and loans, but not to buy shares. Nonetheless it's clear that Germany has taken the initiative in the negotiations and that other countries with Opel plants - Belgium, the UK, Spain and Poland - are not really involved in the talks. The rescue of the car industry thus bears a strong similarity with that of the banks: a national affair. There are attempts to forge a pan-European approach. But for now it seems to be mostly a lot of intentions and no concrete results. Just as the rehabilitation of the carmakers in the US must ultimately lead to a new model for the car industry, Opel could emerge as a new model for European cooperation. But one must doubt that this will indeed happen."

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