@bmoens.bsky.social
EU correspondent Financial Times, covering tech and competition. Get in touch: barbara.moens@ft.com
The EU wants to reduce its tech reliance on US and China via a new Apply AI strategy, seen by the Financial Times, which promotes digital sovereignty.
The bloc warns AI can otherwise be “weaponised” by rivals.
With @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/3WkfSjs
The EU is preparing to start technical work on Ukraine and Moldova joining the bloc despite Hungary’s blockade of advancing accession talks, according to officials briefed on the process.
With @henryjfoy.ft.com @benhallnews.bsky.social @christopherjm.ft.com
on.ft.com/3IGHwnE
Prove your rules don’t target US tech or fix them, Trump’s ambassador to Brussels warns EU
“Obviously, if we’re going to have a good relationship going forward, you can’t have legislation that punishes... your ally,” Andrew Puzder tells @financialtimes.com
w @bmoens.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4nUQVXH
(Another) big digital EU-US scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social
EU targets Apple, Google and Microsoft over online financial scams, as Brussels probes US Big Tech groups and Booking Holdings over handling of fake apps and search results - despite Trump's ire at EU tech regulation
on.ft.com/46OYxoJ
Big story in the battle between Brussels and Big Tech:
The EU is poised to exclude Meta, Apple, Google and Amazon from a new system to share citizens’ financial data, in the face of Trump’s retaliation threats
@bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social with the news
on.ft.com/46tA9Yv
Draghi puts the boot into Brussels, blaming "inaction", "inertia" and "complacency" for failing to implement economic reforms that mean the EU has fallen further behind global rivals such as China & the US
on.ft.com/48hey86
w crack competitiveness crew @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social
Mario Draghi equally impatient: "A review of merger guidelines is under way, but industry cannot wait until 2027— the deadline consistent with the procedure that was chosen. Resilience and innovation must be built into competition policy now."
16.09.2025 08:36 — 👍 13 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
"We will have to advance the publication of the merger guidelines. I think it's now time to deliver", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech, after we reported this weekend that competition chief Teresa Ribera is increasingly under pressure.
www.ft.com/content/9e51...
Despite orders to “modernise the EU’s competition policy”, and rising pressure from industry to clearly define her vision, Ribera has moved cautiously - while prioritising other political interests
A brilliant insight into the EU’s antitrust uncertainty by @bmoens.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3K14tSH
One year on, implementation of Mario Draghi's recipe for Europe's economic renaissance is shy and partial, as EU headspace has been preoccupied with crisis mode, analysis found. @alicemhancock.bsky.social @bmoens.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4423...
10.09.2025 07:09 — 👍 9 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Belgium is open to discuss riskier ways to maximise profits arising from Russian immobilised assets, provided the EU shares the legal risks, its foreign minister told @lauramdubois.ft.com and me - an option just suggested by Ursula von der Leyen in her SOTEU.
on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
The Europe-US trade deal was meant to bring some stability for European business. It has not worked out like that. @bmoens.bsky.social explains why in this column www.ft.com/content/84f8...
10.09.2025 06:26 — 👍 4 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1
ASML and Mistral agree €1.3bn blockbuster European AI deal on.ft.com/3IbzeUu
09.09.2025 05:21 — 👍 47 🔁 12 💬 1 📌 1
EU hits Google with €2.95bn antitrust fine for search advertising practices, in the face of Trump’s threat of retaliatory tariffs over Brussels’ digital regulations
@bmoens.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4mOkV7k
Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Michele Piergiovanni to her cabinet as competition adviser, amid tensions in the European Commission over enforcing the bloc’s antitrust rules in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump.
More in today’s Europe Express
on.ft.com/481ZATp
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has raised the EU’s Digital Markets Act directly in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the company said. It showcases how how Big Tech is using the Trump administration to lobby against the EU’s digital rules.
on.ft.com/45ZLz69
The EU must be prepared to walk away from a trade deal with the US if Donald Trump acts on his threats to target the bloc unless it waters down its digital legislation, Teresa Ribera said.
“We cannot be subject to the will of a third country.”
With @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/47OlOrR
Europe’s roads and rail unfit for war with Russia, EU transport chief warns https://on.ft.com/4l3dace
29.07.2025 09:34 — 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1
EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said he is aiming to spend €17bn on overhauling the continent’s infrastructure to boost military mobility https://on.ft.com/44Tc7qu
29.07.2025 05:38 — 👍 44 🔁 7 💬 3 📌 2
Linsey McCallum will lead DG Competiton ad interim as the bloc has not yet decided who will ultimately replace Olivier Guersent, people briefed on the decision said.
Background on the potential successors here ⬇️
on.ft.com/4lKC5Cs
Can Europe break free of American tech supremacy?
The EU's dependence on US groups for critical digital infrastructure is scaring executives and policymakers - and making stark the dearth of homegrown alternatives
@bmoens.bsky.social with today's @financialtimes.com big read
on.ft.com/40Wl3c4
The European Commission has stalled one of its investigations into Elon Musk’s X for breaking the bloc’s digital transparency rules, while it seeks to conclude trade talks with the US.
With @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/410Q0Mb
💥Von der Leyen botches €2tn EU budget proposal with chaotic infighting, as Brussels officials & member state diplomats warn her centralised & top-down approach has compromised launch of the bloc’s biggest ever common budget
w dreamteam @paolatamma.bsky.social & @bmoens.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3IyMD8Y
As fierce policy battles lie ahead for the EU's antitrust 'ayatollahs', they have to choose a new top civil servant for DG Competition.
The decision will offer the first sign of how far the bloc might open the door to bigger-is-better mergers within the single market.
www.ft.com/content/742d...
The chief executives of large European companies including Airbus and BNP Paribas have urged Brussels to halt its landmark artificial intelligence act ahead of key provisions kicking into force in August.
With @tim.fo
www.ft.com/content/a825...
The EU will set out plans on Wednesday to pool funding and expertise in quantum to build a competitive European ecosystem in the key technology.
Interview with the EU's tech chief @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social on why this is important for the EU's tech sovereignty.
www.ft.com/content/57b4...
💥 Apple to change App Store policies in the EU to give app developers more flexibility in a last-minute attempt to avoid a series of escalating fines from Brussels.
www.ft.com/content/95d4... @financialtimes.com
European governments should buy equity in clean tech companies instead of handing out subsidies, the EU’s competition chief Teresa Ribera said ahead of today's new state aid framework.
Interview here wit @alicemhancock.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/f957...
On Thursday, the EU's 27 leaders will discuss deepening the bloc's single market after a series of global crises have sharpened resolve.
We took a deep dive into the EU's plan to finally make its single market work.
Big Read with @alicemhancock.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/ae2a...
Apple is set to offer concessions to avoid new fines, people involved in the negotiations said, as the company is in last-minute talks with Brussels regulators ahead of a Thursday deadline.
www.ft.com/content/b5d5...
