Overview   Speech

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." [...]

Remarks by EVP Teresa Ribera at the Lisbon Conference on Competition Law and Economics,
Lisbon, 24 October 2025.
[...] "I want to leave you today with a simple message: Europe's future competitiveness will not come from weakening competition, closing markets, or protecting incumbents.
Competition policy is about preventing excessive power, and is therefore critical to our democracy.
Nor will competitiveness come from ignoring climate change, lowering our standards, or deregulating instead of simplifying.
We cannot ignore the externalities of our economic choices. Competition tools can help with this. So can our Single Market. But there is no competitiveness in a race to the bottom".

Opening commission statement delivered by Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera at the European Parliament's Plenary session,
Strasbourg, 20 October 2025.
[...] " The purpose of our antitrust laws is not imposing fines for the sake of it.
It is about changing behaviour, protecting our markets and our citizens. But for the enforcement of our rules, we sometimes need to fine for illegal behaviour." [...]

Remarks by EVP Teresa Ribera at the 52nd Annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy, and Antitrust Economics at Fordham Law School,
New York, 19 September 2025.
[...] "In Europe, we are committed to facilitate a clean, just and competitive transition of our economy.
We want companies to succeed; we are happy to see them grow; we welcome their contribution to prosperity.
But as a society, we set limits to their power.
Because we know that innovation suffers under monopoly. Sustainability suffers under monopoly. And freedom and democracy suffers under monopoly.
And we also know that as law enforcers, we are mandated to ensure a well-functioning market, without fear or favour".

Opening remarks by EVP Teresa Ribera at the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference,
Florence, 12 September 2025.
[...] "The principles I outlined today, from our firm but fair enforcement to the modernisation of our foundational competition rules, are not simply a checklist of actions.
They are essential components of a single, coherent vision for a bright future for Europe. We are convinced that this is also the aim of most of our fellow colleagues in this room, and beyond.
Our objective is clear: to cultivate a truly dynamic and innovative European economy where businesses of all sizes can scale up, where European citizens are empowered with real choices, and where markets serve people".

Closing Remarks by EVP Teresa Ribera at the 20th Annual GCLC Conference,
Brussels, 30 April 2025.
[...] " competition policy can also today be a powerful force for change, for creation of health and for shared prosperity.
It is also a critical tool to ensure that market power is not excessive and, in that sense protects democracy and ensure high quality of life.
I would say it is a very powerful horizontal enabler. It is a tool that boosts productivity, efficiency, and innovation. This leads to better resource use, cleaner technologies, and more resilient supply chains.." [...]

Speech by EVP Teresa Ribera in the Forum Europa Brussels Breakfast,
Brussels, 20 January 2025.
[...] "This is why we are working to adapt our competition tools to the new challenges that lie ahead. We will preserve the fundamentals, which have stood the test of time, but we need to factor in today's complex technological, economic, and geopolitical challenges. The world is not the type of world we just to know anymore. We need to ensure that competition policy continues to be an enabler of our other policy objectives, in particular innovation, decarbonisation and economic security within our borders, and a level playing field worldwide." [...]

Speech by EVP Teresa Ribera in the Annual CRA Brussels Conference 2024 on competition policy adapted to the new global realities,
Brussels, 10 December 2024.
[...] "Europe is defining its new business model, with competition as an essential part of it. And with competition policy as a compass to reach the kind of Europe we want to live in. A Europe that is competitive, green, fair, and resilient." [...]

Statement by EVP Vestager at the Joint European Forum for IPCEI (JEF-IPCEI),
Brussels, 27 November 2024.
[...] "Ultimately, what the Letta and Draghi reports tell us is that, in a changing and ever-more challenging world, we will succeed together, or fail individually.
This is precisely what IPCEIs are about: they are about collaborating and working together, to push frontiers, to the benefit of our competitiveness and more broadly of our societies. Having seen the willingness and dedication of all those involved in the JEF-IPCEI, to free up resources and to prioritise this work, I am confident that we will succeed together."

Listen to the speech by EVP Vestager at the webinar "Generative Al : the challenges for innovation, the economy and competition" organised by the French Autorité de la concurrence,
1 October 2024.
[...] "For competition enforcers, I think it is clear what must be done: we must continue to monitor transactions in the AI sector, we must continue to assess our options and how to address new challenges and we must do this by working together." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the 28th Annual Competition Conference of the International Bar Association,
Florence, 6 September 2024.
[...] "Will we revise Regulation 1/2003 and when? I am afraid these are questions that I cannot answer. Whether or not Regulation 1/2003 will be amended will be for the new Commissioner for Competition to decide. But I assure you that there will be opportunities for you to engage with the process." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the European Commission workshop on "Competition in Virtual Worlds and Generative AI",
Brussels, 28 June 2024.
[...] "The commercialisation of AI and its powerful tools is going to be lead by a few companies that already have a lot of market power. And these firms could leverage powerful network effects to control emerging markets. So we remain vigilant. Not just because of AI's huge potential to boost growth and competitiveness but also to protect things like freedom of expression and equality." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the Open Markets Institute,
Brussels, 27 June 2024.
[...] "We are not just concerned with the concentration of market power. We are concerned that this power is in the hands of online platforms that have gained a huge space in our lives. That control how we get our news. How we share it. How we interact with each other.
The ties that we built across the Atlantic serve a common purpose. To restore competition. To empower companies and consumers. To set guardrails against disinformation and impediments to plurality. We have built far-reaching tools. We owe it to our citizens to use them with purpose." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at DG COMP's conference "Protecting competition in a changing world",
Brussels, 27 June 2024.
[...] "And to be clear, the advancement of competition policy means the advancement of the Single Market. Competition policy is about breaking down barriers and market partitioning. Progress in the Single Market's integration will both improve competition and provide more opportunities for scale economies and growth." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the European Competition Network conference on the DMA,
Amsterdam, 24 June 2024.
[...] "The Commission and the ECN members will work hard to ensure the DMA is effective. We will make sure that the stadium gates are kept open, the pitch is level and play is fair. You can leave that to us.
But we need you—startups, SMEs, and investors—to take the ball, run with it and score those goals. We are at a crucial point for digital markets, and we all need to pitch in. Together as Team DMA, we can make the digital game competitive again."

Speech by EVP Vestager at the European Young Bar Association summer conference,
Brussels, 21 June 2024.
[...] "When you read Norse mythology, the interactions with the jötnar are never simple. Sometimes it involves negotiations, sometimes it involves more active persuasion.
I think that is also how it must be with today's digital giants. The fact is, we are only at the beginning of a new digital era. The new rules we have put in place will need to be honed over time – I'm sure of it. But one lesson from the Viking myths will still be true: power is neither ‘all good' nor ‘all bad' – it's a mix of the two; and it all depends on what you do with it." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the High-Level Forum on State Aid,
Brussels, 3 June 2024.
[...] "State aid policy must continue to fulfil its mandate to avoid undue distortions to competition, while allowing the EU to stay at the forefront of innovation, cater for cohesion and lead the twin transition. The EU will need to maintain a balance and continue to adapt its State aid policy to changing market conditions and other policy developments while preserving a competitive Single Market." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the EU Competition Day,
Brussels, 26 April 2024.
[...] "I think we have made it clear that we will protect the Single Market. We will tackle distortive subsidies from wherever in the world they arise. But we will only act on the basis of clear evidence and in full respect of our international engagements and commitments." [...]

Speech by EVP Vestager at the Merger Regulation 20th Anniversary Conference,
Brussels, 18 April 2024.
[...] "And so like a tall and towering tree, the Merger Regulation has stood its ground, firmly rooted in the rule of law for the last 20 years. The secret to its success has been its robust but flexible framework. But we are on a constant learning curve, and always open to hear your feedback.
That said, I do think we have to be careful about tinkering with the basic framework of the Merger Regulation. Some are calling for some hard pruning to the tree. Others would like to see it chopped down altogether. If you ask me, I would prefer to see it continue to grow and blossom."