brussels Braces for “Trumpian” Shiftโค as EU Competition Policy Loses Its Edge
Brussels – A marked shift in the European Union’s approachโค to antitrust enforcement is โraising concerns among observers,who point to a recent,subdued decision regarding Google โฃas evidence of a waning willingness to confront powerful U.S. tech companies. The changeโค echoes a โdynamic reminiscent โof the Donald Trumpโ era in the United States, where regulatory โฃchallengesโค faced political โheadwinds โand assertive action gave way to quiet โคresolutions.
Forโฃ over a decade,the EU distinguishedโ itself through aggressive โcompetition policy,unafraid to challenge American corporate giants.landmark cases included blocking a $42 billion Honeywell acquisition of General Electric in 2001,โข and later, pursuing considerableโข penalties against google and Apple. Former โขantitrust czar Margretheโค Vestager became a โglobal figure, publicly โthreatening to break up Google and securing a โฌ13 โbillion tax repaymentโฃ order from Appleโข related to its โarrangementsโ in Ireland. However, the recent handling of a fine for Google’s search advertising practices signals a potential departure from this assertive stance,โ prompting questions about the future of EU-U.S. tech regulation.
The anticipated fine against Google was initially delayed atโข the request of EU trade Commissioner Maroลก ล efฤoviฤ, โaโค move that promptly drewโฃ criticism. When the decision โฃwas finally publicized,โฃ it โขwasโค delivered via a low-profile press release and explanatoryโข video, conspicuously excludingโฃ the commissioner in charge, Teresa Ribera. This contrasted sharply with the high-profile approach previously favored by the Commission.
The subdued announcement did not preventโ a swift reaction from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who โposted on his truth Social platform thatโฃ his โ”Management will NOTโฃ allow these discriminatory actions to stand.” While Trump is no longer in office, his statement underscores the potential for escalating transatlantic tensions over tech regulation and โthe possibility โฃof retaliatory measures. the shift within the EU Commission raises concerns that political โconsiderations are increasingly influencing decisions โฃthat wereโ once driven primarily by โlegal and economic arguments, potentially signaling a new era of โคdiminished regulatory ambition.
