EU Competition Policy

💬 "As of now, competing wallets will be able to offer the same “tap and go” experience on iPhones that was so far reserved for Apple Pay. Consumers will benefit from more choices and new opportunities for innovation, while continuing to enjoy iPhone features and uncompromised security" ✔ The European Commission has accepted Apple’s commitments to allow rival mobile wallets to use the “tap and go” technology on iPhones for payments in shops. Listen to DG Competition Deputy Head of Unit for Antitrust Payments Systems René Plank explain all about it in this video 👇 https://lnkd.in/eh7xW3ik #EUCompetition #EUAntitrust #Apple #iPhone

🗣 "This shows that antitrust enforcement goes hand in hand with the DMA [...] 👇 [...] From now on, Apple can no longer use its control over the iPhone ecosystem to keep other mobile wallets out of the market. Competing wallet developers, as well as consumers, will benefit from these changes, opening up innovation and choice, while keeping payments secure" says Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager. 📌 Here you can find her remarks on the decision to make binding commitments offered by Apple ⬇ https://europa.eu/!RWW7KF #EUAntitrust #Apple #iPhone #Vestager #EUCompetition

🔴 The European Commission accepts commitments by Apple opening access to 'tap and go' technology on iPhones ✔ 📜 This decision made commitments offered by Apple legally binding under EU antitrust rules. ℹ The commitments address the Commission's competition concerns regarding Apple's refusal to grant rivals access to a standard technology for contactless payments with iPhones in stores (‘Near-Field-Communication (NFC)' or ‘tap and go'). 📅 The commitments will remain in force for ten years and apply throughout the EEA. 🔍 Their implementation will be monitored by a monitoring trustee appointed by Apple who will report to the Commission for the same time period. Apple's commitments are without prejudice to Apple's current or future obligations under other regulations, in particular the Digital Markets Act. For all information 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!tmg37y #EUAntitrust #EUCompetition #Apple #iPhone

🔴 The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether a German recapitalisation measure of €6 billion in favour of Deutsche Lufthansa AG is in line with EU State aid rules 👇 📅 The measure was initially approved on 25 June 2020 by the Commission under the State aid COVID Temporary Framework, but subsequently annulled by the General Court on 10 May 2023 👩⚖️ ℹ An appeal submitted by Lufthansa is still pending. The aid aimed at restoring the balance sheet position and liquidity of Lufthansa in the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus. 🔍 The opening of an in-depth investigation gives Germany and interested third parties the opportunity to submit comments. It does not prejudge in any way the outcome of the investigation. For all information ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!QmPcHW #EUCompetition #EUStateAid #investigation #Lufthansa

🔴 The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of joint control of ITA Airways by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance ✔ ℹ The approval is conditional upon full compliance with the remedies offered by Lufthansa and the MEF. 🔍 Today's decision follows an in-depth investigation of the proposed transaction, including the sending of a Statement of Objections. 🛑 Following its market investigation, the Commission had concerns that the transaction would have ⬇ 📌 reduced competition on a certain number of short-haul routes connecting Italy with countries in Central Europe through non-stop and one-stop flights; 📌 reduced competition on a limited number of long-haul routes between Italy and the US and Canada; 📌 created or strengthened ITA's dominant position at the Milan-Linate airport. 📄 To address the Commission's competition concerns, Lufthansa and the MEF submitted a remedy package consisting of commitments for short-haul routes, long-haul routes and for Milan Linate airport 🛫 ✅ These commitments fully address the competition concerns identified by the Commission. Therefore, the Commission concluded that the transaction would no longer raise competition concerns. All information can be found at the link below 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!Vx8nFV #EUMergerControl #ITA #Lufthansa #EUCompetition

Today, DG Competition hosted the participants of the EU-Asia Competition Summer School 👩🎓 In the context of the EU-Asia Summer School, officials from China, India, and ASEAN countries were welcomed at the DG Competition premises. They took part in several sessions designed to facilitate exchanges of experiences between Asian and European Commission officials. ℹ The visit aimed to provide participants with a deeper knowledge and understanding of EU competition law and policy, including its principles and practical application. All course participants had the opportunity to meet DG Competition officials and receive a first-hand introduction to the work of the DG, the European Competition Network, and EU policy on merger review, state aid, and antitrust. 🤝 Engaging with fellow competition authorities worldwide and exchanging views with international officials is essential for fostering mutual understanding, even when competition policies and enforcement approaches may differ. 🌐 International relations play a crucial role in ensuring effective cooperation and promoting fair competition globally. To know more about the international relations of DG Competition 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!GMD7KC Executive Education, Training & Projects Office #EUAsiaCompetitionSummerSchool #EUCompetition #EUAntitrust #SummerSchool

🔴 Today, the Commission has informed Meta of its preliminary findings that its “pay or consent” advertising model fails to comply with the Digital Markets Act 👇 📜 Under the DMA, gatekeepers must seek users' consent for combining their personal data between designated core platform services and other services, and if a user refuses such consent, they should have access to a less personalised but equivalent alternative. ℹ In response to regulatory changes in the EU, Meta introduced in November 2023 a binary “pay or consent” offer whereby EU users of Facebook and Instagram have to choose between: 📌 the subscription for a monthly fee to an ads-free version of these social networks or 📌 the free-of-charge access to a version of these social networks with personalised ads. ⛔ The Commission takes the preliminary view that Meta's “pay or consent” advertising model is not compliant with the DMA as it ⬇ 📎 Does not allow users to opt for a service that uses less of their personal data; 📎 Does not allow users to exercise their right to freely consent to the combination of their personal data. To ensure compliance with the DMA, users who do not consent should still get access to an equivalent service that uses less of their personal data, in this case for the personalisation of advertising. 🔍 The Commission will conclude its investigation within 12 months from the opening of proceedings on 25 March 2024. All information ⬇ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!yjjm9k #DigitalMarketsAct #DMA #META #data

🗣 Here below you can find Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager's speech at the European Commission's Workshop on Competition in Virtual Worlds and Generative AI 👇 🗨 "What will all of this mean for us in the future? With new opportunities come new challenges and threats. To privacy and equality, some say even to our democracy. There are both pessimists and optimists. But we as competition authorities have to be realists. Because we act in the here and now. To make markets work for people" To read the whole speech 📜 🔗 https://europa.eu/!PBhvJp #GenAIVirtualWorldsWorkshop #AI #GenerativeAI #Vestager

📣 The Commission has approved Denmark and Sweden's plans to grant Scandinavian Airlines System AB restructuring aid for up to €1.3 billion The measure will enable the company to restore its long-term viability while minimising competition distortions. In October 2020, the Commission approved under the #COVID-19 Temporary framework a recapitalisation of SAS. Following the annulment by the General Court, the Commission approved the recapitalisation again in November 2023. However, SAS did not manage to turn operations around and had to file for collective insolvency proceedings in the second half of 2022. As a result, SAS had to reorganise its business and Sweden and Denmark submitted to the Commission a restructuring plan supported with State aid. The plan is necessary to make SAS viable again, following the slower than expected recovery of the air travel demand since the outbreak of the #coronavirus pandemic and the adverse effects of Russia's invasion of #Ukraine. 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eWvSd2xw

📣 The 2024 Competition Summer School for officials from Asian authorities will kick off next week in Bruges. ⏺ The Summer School will run between 📅 1 and 12 July. Officials from ASEAN countries, India and China will participate. On 2 July, participants from all the partner countries will visit the Directorate General for Competition, where they will take part in several sessions to allow exchanges of experiences between the Asian and European Commission's officials. The Competition Summer School facilitates cooperation 🤝 amongst the participating authorities and deepens the contacts with European officials and professionals. More information is available on the EU-Asia Competition Cooperation website. 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehrRgX5y 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e7x54fi3 #EUAsiaCompetitionSchool