The European Commission published its third annual report outlining the progress towards achieving the objectives of the Digital Markets Act (‘DMA') to support fair and contestable digital markets in the EU.
The fourth issue of 2026 includes the following articles: "Cleared for Take-Off, Subject to Conditions" (looking at the Commission’s conditional approval of Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems following a Phase I investigation) ; and "M.11939 FrieslandCampina/Milcobel – A dairy tale" (which covers the Commission’s first assessment of a merger between dairy cooperatives in the context of a sustained milk shortage, following an in-depth investigation into the dairy sector in Belgium and the Netherlands.)
The European Commission has published its Report on competition policy for 2025. The report presents the main legislative initiatives and policy developments of 2025, as well as a selection of enforcement actions, to citizens, businesses and the competition policy community.
The Commission’s enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is delivering new interoperability and data portability features for developers and providers of connected devices (such as headphones, smartwatches, and smart glasses). As a result, iPhone and Android users can expect to see improvements in how their smartphones work over the next weeks and months.
The European Commission's first review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) found that in the first two years of its application, the DMA remains fit for purpose and has opened up new opportunities for businesses and developers, while giving users more control over their experiences and devices, as well as access to more diverse and innovative digital products and services.
The Commission services and the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) have agreed to work together to clarify and give guidance on the interplay between EU competition law and data protection law. This joint work between Commission’ services and the EDPB will focus on selected situations where data protection law is relevant for competition law assessment and conversely to ensure a coherent approach between the two areas of law.
In the context of the review of the Merger Guidelines, as a follow-up to the public consultation, DG Competition is organizing two interactive technical stakeholder workshops on key aspects of the review of the Merger Guidelines. The aim of the workshops is to gather views on these important topics of the review and discuss how they could be incorporated in the draft Merger Guidelines. Workshop 1: Scale, Competitiveness and Efficiencies. Brussels, 4 December 2025, 9.00 – 17:00 CETWorkshop 2: Innovation, Investment, Sustainability, Labour and Democracy. Brussels, 20 January 2026, 9.00 – 17:00 CET
To mark its 20th Anniversary, the Chief Economist Team is organising a conference that will bring together leading experts to discuss and reflect about competition economics in a changing world. The event will be a half-day conference (exclusively in-person, with no streaming available) on Thursday 15 May 2025, with opening and closing remarks by Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and Director-General Olivier Guersent, a keynote lecture by Chief Competition Economist Prof. Emanuele Tarantino, as well as roundtables where contributors from academia, private sector and public sector will discuss about the contribution of economics to public policies, with an emphasis in competition and industrial policies.
On 4 March 2025, Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera hosted her first Youth Policy Dialogue on Empowering Young Talent and Improving Gender Balance in the EU. The event was an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with the younger generation and listen to their insightful contributions. Here you can see the highlights of event. For more information about the Dialogue, please click here, and for the recording of the whole event, please click here.
The Commission is advancing its market investigation on the application of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to cloud markets, to gather views from experts. The Commission will invite stakeholders who actively contributed to the market investigation to further share their views among other experts in thematic roundtables to be held on 1 July 2026, covering (i) the interoperability between/with cloud computing services and other technical features, (ii) financial conditions applying to procuring cloud computing services and (iii) other contractual conditions between customers and cloud computing services providers.
As part of its ongoing public consultation on the Draft Merger Guidelines (published on 30 April 2026 for replies by 26 June 2026, more information here), DG Competition is organizing an interactive technical stakeholder workshop on key aspects of the draft text of the Merger Guidelines.The aim of the workshop is to gather views on all sections of the draft text and discuss potential amendments to the final Merger Guidelines.
On 5 March 2026, DG Competition will host a conference to discuss key aspects of the ongoing review of the Merger Guidelines. This event will bring together leading experts and stakeholders to explore the latest developments and challenges in EU merger control.The conference will debate three broad themes:Driving productivity and innovation in the Single Market: the role of EU Merger control;How can mergers promote a more sustainable Europe?; andMergers and the cost of living: price effects, workers woes and other impacts to society.The conference will be held only in-person. DG Competition plans to inform the admitted participants via email by 13 February 2026.
The European Commission invites expressions of interest for the role of Non-Governmental Advisors in the International Competition Network (ICN) for the 2026-2027 term.ICN members collaborate with non-governmental advisors, including academics, industry representatives, consumer groups, trade unions, and private practitioners. This collaboration enriches ICN projects by incorporating diverse perspectives.We seek to partner with various ICN-NGAs to ensure high-quality contributions based on broad stakeholder experience. Selected ICN-NGAs will actively engage with the European Commission in drafting and revising Working Group outputs, and participating in seminars, webinars, and workshops.If you are interested in becoming an ICN-NGA and supporting the European Commission, please contact DG Competition at COMP-ICN@ec.europa.eu. The call for interest will be open until 16 June 2026 (close of business).
The Commission is publishing for consultation the draft Guidelines on State aid to the air transport sector, which will replace the 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines. This consultation will be open to the general public. National authorities, airports, airlines and related associations are in particular welcome to contribute.Deadline for the submission of contributions is 11 June 2026See also the European Commission's press release.
The Commission is consulting third parties on the draft measures that Alphabet must implement to ensure effective interoperability with AI services on its Android operating system (Google Android), as required by Article 6(7) of the DMA. The Commission especially welcomes contributions from companies with first-hand experience on issues concerned by these proceedings, such as those providing Artificial Intelligence (AI) services on Android smartphones and tablets or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) whose mobile devices are powered by Google Android. See also the Commission's press release.
Keynote speech of the EVP Ribera at the 23rd International Conference on Competition,Berlin, 12 March 2026. [...] "Competition enforcement can complement political priorities but parliaments decide on political priorities and trade-offs. So, in these uncertain geopolitical times I wish for competition policy that we know is principled, that we work to modernise and that we acknowledge is very relevant, but complementary." [...]
Speech by EVP Teresa Ribera at the 2025 CRA Brussels Conference,Brussels, 9 December 2025. [...] "As European Commissioners it is our duty to stand up, in order to defend values and the enforcement of our laws. As Commissioner in charge of competition, it is my duty to defend the competition toolkit, to enforce competition laws, including the DMA, even in times of weaponisation of trade." [...]
Keynote Speech by EVP Teresa Ribera at the OECD Global Forum on Competition,Paris, 1 December 2025. [...] "Competition law is not a tool for controlling markets or advancing narrow economic interests. It is an essential pillar of open, fair, and sustainable markets. It should never be a bargaining chip in trade negotiations or a tool for protectionism.Its purpose is to safeguard citizens' welfare and strengthen economies in a socially and environmentally responsible way.For this, international cooperation, dialogue and a strong commitment to multilateralism are essential." [...]
The European Commission has approved a €25 million Spanish State aid scheme to support fishing companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.
The European Commission has approved a €54 million Spanish State aid scheme to support agricultural companies facing increased fuel prices due to the Middle East crisis.The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026. The scheme covers higher diesel prices from late March to late June and will run until 31 December 2026.
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of BASF's coatings division ('BASF Coatings') by The Carlyle Group Inc. ('Carlyle'). The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments offered by Carlyle, which entails divesting the worldwide polysulfides business of Nouryon Ltd. ('Nouryon') to a suitable purchaser.
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation ('FSR'), the proposed acquisition by JD.com, Inc. ('JD.com') of CECONOMY AG ('CECONOMY'). The Commission has preliminary concerns that JD.com may have been granted foreign subsidies that could distort the EU internal market.
The European Commission has informed several companies active in the synthetic turf sector of its preliminary view that they have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to distort competition in synthetic turf for sports pitches in the Netherlands and Germany.
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed creation of a joint venture between UPM-Kymmene Corporation ('UPM') and Sappi Limited ('Sappi'). The Commission is concerned that the transaction may reduce competition in certain markets for the production and supply of communication paper and specialty paper in the European Economic Area ('EEA') and result in higher prices, less choice or reduced quality.
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its draft revised Guidelines on State aid to the air transport sector. These will replace the existing Guidelines, which were adopted in 2014. Interested parties are invited to respond to the public consultation by 11 June 2026.
The European Commission has launched today a public consultation inviting comments on the draft of the new EU Merger Guidelines. These will replace the current Horizontal Merger Guidelines and the Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines. This marks the most significant reform in EU merger control of the past two decades.See also the consultation's form, as well as the corresponding COMP Flash.
The European Commission has adopted a temporary State aid framework to enable Member States to support the EU economy in the context of the Middle East crisis. The Middle East crisis Temporary State aid Framework (METSAF) is a targeted and temporary framework to address the effects of the crisis on some of the most exposed sectors of the economy: agriculture, fishery, transport and energy-intensive industries. The METSAF will be in place until 31 December 2026. During its period of application, the Commission will keep the content, scope and duration of the Framework under review in the light of developments in the Middle East and in the general economic situation.See also Remarks by Executive Vice-President Ribera at the press conference on the METSAF.
Executive Vice-President Vestager has informed President von der Leyen about her nomination as an official candidate by the Danish government for the position of President of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank and requested an unpaid leave for the duration of the campaign. The President has granted the unpaid leave to Executive Vice-President Vestager underlining that during that period the relevant provisions of the Treaties and the Code of Conduct for the Members of the Commission continue to apply.
"I have received a letter from Professor Fiona Scott Morton that she has decided to withdraw and not take up the post as Chief Competition Economist. Having also spoken with Professor Scott Morton, I accept her decision, with regret and full respect for her integrity." [...]
The European Commission has appointed Fiona Scott Morton as Chief Competition Economist at the Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP). This Commission department works to ensure that all companies compete equally and fairly on their merits within the single market, to the benefit of consumers, businesses and the European economy as a whole. She will take up her duties on 1 September 2023.
The Commission takes note of today’s judgement of the General Court confirming the designation of Messenger as a core platform service under the DMA. This is an important step for the enforcement of the DMA and for the pursuit of more contestability and fairness in digital markets. It means that Meta must keep offering interoperability between Messenger and other number-independent interpersonal communications services, similarly than for WhatsApp.The Commission also takes note of the General Court’s ruling invalidating the designation of Marketplace as a core platform service under the DMA. We will carefully assess the General Court’s ruling in this regard. The impact of this invalidation is limited, because Marketplace has already been un-designated by the Commission since April 2025 due to the Business Users threshold no longer being met. See also Curia's press release (in PDF format).
The Commission takes note of today’s judgments of the General Court which dismissed the actions for annulment brought by Vivendi and Lagardère against two Commission’s decisions from 2023. Those decisions required Vivendi and Lagardère to submit certain internal documents as part of the Commission’s ongoing investigation into whether Vivendi breached EU merger rules by implementing its acquisition of Lagardère before merger approval.The Commission will carefully study the judgments and reflect on possible next steps.See also judgment in Lagardère v Commission.
The Commission takes note of today’s preliminary ruling delivered by the Court of Justice clarifying that national courts and authorities must disregard national rules allowing, under certain conditions, the suspension of a procedure intended to recover unlawful State aid that is incompatible with the internal market, unless the aid beneficiary is deprived of the competitive advantage linked to that aid.The Commission will carefully assess the implications of the Judgment.
