Antitrust enforcement gets some political framing in the European Parliament.
— Google AdTech behaviour hurt publishers; this hurt media, journalism & ultimately democracy
— antitrust is about combatting unfair power & ensuring citizens are protected
—Europe is urged to stand up to Trump

Whenever there is an outage or supply disturbance like #AWS today, it triggers familiar scraps over #resilience.

Sometimes, that means big, strong (European) companies able to compete globally.

Today, that means not being dependent on a single provider who can make half the internet fall over.

Le plan choc d’Orange, Bouygues Telecom et Free pour faire disparaître SFR et se partager ses « business » Les trois groupes de télécoms ont envoyé, mardi 14 octobre, une offre de rachat conjointe de 17 milliards d’euros pour l’entreprise de Patrick Drahi. Objectif : dépecer leur rival pour faire passer le...

Mega test of EU approach to industrial policy coming up. 3 big French telcos are jointly bidding to buy the 4th. EU has historically blocked 4-to-3 consolidation as it raises prices. But the mood has shifted of late, eg Draghi saying mergers could be OK. One to watch.

www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...

One for the people of Europe. Or at least those who dress well.

@teresaribera.ec.europa.eu and @ec.europa.eu have fined Gucci, Chloe and Loewe a total of 157 million euros for using resale polciies that restrcted independent sellers. Keep pricies high. No discounts. Specified sales periods.

Nobel Laureates on innovation being crucial for competitiveness.

Dealing back on competition policies, it’s an important part of our work when updating our merger guidelines to better take into account innovation and the appearance of new innovative firms.

For context, there is a renewed push by European companies and some governments to soften the M&A rules.

But EU competition boss @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu is calling it out.

The framing is interesting: for here, it’s about protecting values, social-market, democracy.

Ican Klíma obituary Czech novelist and playwright whose work was banned under communism

One of the greats no longer with us. RIP Ivan Klima.

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

Our traditional annual conversation with three leading voices in EU journalism on digital competition policy: Samuel Stolton, Lewis Crofts and Javier Espinoza. Really honest, easygoing, and insightful answers, occasionally provocative, addressing Europe’s digital markets.
▶️ lnkd.in/eCQTYCQc

Commission opens investigation into possible anticompetitive practices by SAP regarding maintenance and support services for its popular business management software The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether SAP may have distorted competition in the aftermarket for maintenance and support services related to an on-premises type of

Does the EU pick on American tech companies? The White House says yes.

Today, EU opens probe into German software giant #SAP

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Apple asks EU to scrap landmark digital competition law Apple asked the European Union to scrap its landmark digital competition law on Thursday, arguing that it poses security risks and creates a "worse experience" for consumers.

Just to bring you up to date:

Apple says DMA is bad for consumers techxplore.com/news/2025-09...

Consumer organisation says DMA is good for consumers
www.beuc.eu/news/digital...

EU to 'Pay Attention' to Fair Competition as US Companies Come to Europe, Says Ribera Teresa Ribera, European Commission executive VP for clean, just and competitive transition, discusses the future of anti-trust protections in the European Union and and responsibility to fair competit...

Bloomberg TV & radio host @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu for an interview covering topics: EU/US adtech probes; Nvidia's dominance; EU-US trade deal; US government's stake in Intel.

www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

If you’re looking for a snappy summary of @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu vision for competition policy, look here:

“More than economics, it’s about democracy.”

She said the learnings from the current consultation would likely inform merger work even before the guidelines are finalised. /ends

Ribera told reporters: the timeline was on track & it was important the debate wasn’t hijacked by “vested interests.” Champions (of any size) are fine so long as they aren’t against consumers and competition.

She said the review had thrown up “contradictory” views & it was important to stay calm.

Quite some talk about the EU review of the merger guidelines today. (NB this is the policy document about what mergers to approve).

@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu said this morning they should be accelerated from the 2027 timeline.

@teresaribera.ec.europa.eu said a draft will appear spring next year

US has accused EU of picking on companies and Trump uses the word “tax” for fines/state aid repayment.

Ribera can now point out that not all cases end like that. Companies can cooperate and escape fines by immediately repairing the market.

#YinAndYang

The last week has seen both sides of @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu approach to competition enforcement.

The “hard” side: Google gets fined nearly 3pm.

The “soft” side: Microsoft avoids a fine by changing its Teams software.

This’ll be a helpful counterpoint in debates of US tech regulation.

"Now more than ever is important to the enforce our antitrust laws to all economic operators, including digital ones that represent a very relevant share of today’s markets."

Ribera: "This decision reflects the very complex and technical conducted by my team over the last four years. I am deeply grateful to everyone involved in this long and complex process for their commitment and dedication."...

For EU and the rules it seeks to impose and safeguard, as well as the trans-Atlantic relations and tech markets.

@teresaribera.ec.europa.eu says: "Today we act to protect all European citizens who use the internet by ensuring a well-functioning digital advertising market.

BOOM.

After a turbulent week, @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu weilds the power of the EU's #antitrust rulebook: 2.95 billion fine on Google for adtech abuse.

After the Monday drama of the fine being opposed and delayed, it's a very bold move to hit Google hard. But there was much at stake.

EU was scheduled to release a fine against Google. It was pulled at the last minute due to EU-US trade tensions.

Great scoop from MLex.

Stand up to Trump on Big Tech, says EU antitrust chief Bloc must be prepared to walk away from trade deal with US if it retaliates against Brussels’ digital laws, warns Teresa Ribera

EU must be prepared to walk away from trade deal if US retaliates over tech laws, @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu tells the FT

www.ft.com/content/010c...

Donald Trump threatens retaliation over taxes that ‘discriminate’ against US tech President claims other countries’ digital levies hurt American companies while ignoring China

I doubt this is what EU/UK officials were expecting to read from Trump.

As the trade deals bed in and everyone exhales... Trump renews his opprobrium: foreign tech laws against US companies will be met with retaliation.

www.ft.com/content/ff8d...

Just went you thought it was safe to go outside... or maybe go and gamble some of your EU salary in Vegas... you better cancel that trip.

Billion-dollar ‘acqui-hires’ are bad for competition From Google to Microsoft to Meta, some of the biggest tech deals of the past few years have been staff moves

Jonathan Kanter, former top #antitrust cop at the US DOJ, warns in the @financialtimes.com about the risk of "aqui-hires," by the likes of Google, Microsoft and Meta, where they pick-up startups (often AI) to absorb their staff, in a way that avoids regulatory scrutiny. www.ft.com/content/1d70...

Trump orders overturn Biden era antitrust crackdown, promote space industry President Trump revoked a Biden-era executive order that spurred more aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws in an effort to promote competition in the economy.

End of an era in US. Trump revokes Biden's 2021 executive order which promoted an "all economy" approach for competition.

DOJ welcomed the move saying it wanted to unleash the power of business, not give more power to regulators. Amercia First Antitrust.
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/au...

Commission launches review of Foreign Subsidies Regulation The European Commission has launched today its first review of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (‘FSR\'). As a first step of this review, the Commission is seeking feedback from interested parties, wi...

A powerful tool, still in its infancy.

Commissioners @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu & Sejourne launch a consultation ahead of a report next year. One of the many steps to see how this new law can be refined. Questions about admin burden & legal approach.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.

slate.com/technology/2...

PTPA updates complaint in ATP, WTA antitrust lawsuit The PTPA has submitted an updated complaint in its antitrust lawsuit against tennis’ governing bodies as the org has taken out critiques of the tour schedule from players who are not named as plaintif...

As the tennis season gathers pace, a reminder that there is an almighty #antitrust fight going on between players and governing bodies.

The lawsuit though has been narrowed down a little.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...