Brussels is considering stronger rule of law safeguards for future entrants to prevent bringing "Trojan horses" into the EU, the bloc's enlargement chief @martakos.ec.europa.eu told the Financial Times. With @henryjfoy.ft.com www.ft.com/content/9493...

Meta and Apple are in the final stages of agreeing a deal with European regulators to change a range of business practices to settle antitrust cases with Brussels, as the US Big Tech groups seek to avoid a series of escalating fines. Great scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/4q7W3d1

The EU wants to reduce its tech reliance on US and China via a new Apply AI strategy, seen by the Financial Times, which promotes digital sovereignty. The bloc warns AI can otherwise be “weaponised” by rivals. With @henryjfoy.ft.com on.ft.com/3WkfSjs

The EU is preparing to start technical work on Ukraine and Moldova joining the bloc despite Hungary’s blockade of advancing accession talks, according to officials briefed on the process. With @henryjfoy.ft.com @benhallnews.bsky.social @christopherjm.ft.com on.ft.com/3IGHwnE

Prove your rules don’t target US tech or fix them, Trump’s ambassador to Brussels warns EU “Obviously, if we’re going to have a good relationship going forward, you can’t have legislation that punishes... your ally,” Andrew Puzder tells @financialtimes.com w @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/4nUQVXH

(Another) big digital EU-US scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social EU targets Apple, Google and Microsoft over online financial scams, as Brussels probes US Big Tech groups and Booking Holdings over handling of fake apps and search results - despite Trump's ire at EU tech regulation on.ft.com/46OYxoJ

Big story in the battle between Brussels and Big Tech: The EU is poised to exclude Meta, Apple, Google and Amazon from a new system to share citizens’ financial data, in the face of Trump’s retaliation threats @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social with the news on.ft.com/46tA9Yv

Draghi puts the boot into Brussels, blaming "inaction", "inertia" and "complacency" for failing to implement economic reforms that mean the EU has fallen further behind global rivals such as China & the US on.ft.com/48hey86 w crack competitiveness crew @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social

"We will have to advance the publication of the merger guidelines. I think it's now time to deliver", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech, after we reported this weekend that competition chief Teresa Ribera is increasingly under pressure. www.ft.com/content/9e51...

Despite orders to “modernise the EU’s competition policy”, and rising pressure from industry to clearly define her vision, Ribera has moved cautiously - while prioritising other political interests A brilliant insight into the EU’s antitrust uncertainty by @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/3K14tSH

One year on, implementation of Mario Draghi's recipe for Europe's economic renaissance is shy and partial, as EU headspace has been preoccupied with crisis mode, analysis found. @alicemhancock.bsky.social @bmoens.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4423...

Belgium is open to discuss riskier ways to maximise profits arising from Russian immobilised assets, provided the EU shares the legal risks, its foreign minister told @lauramdubois.ft.com and me - an option just suggested by Ursula von der Leyen in her SOTEU. on.ft.com/4m5yFt9

The Europe-US trade deal was meant to bring some stability for European business. It has not worked out like that. @bmoens.bsky.social explains why in this column www.ft.com/content/84f8...

ASML and Mistral agree €1.3bn blockbuster European AI deal on.ft.com/3IbzeUu

EU hits Google with €2.95bn antitrust fine for search advertising practices, in the face of Trump’s threat of retaliatory tariffs over Brussels’ digital regulations @bmoens.bsky.social @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/4mOkV7k

Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Michele Piergiovanni to her cabinet as competition adviser, amid tensions in the European Commission over enforcing the bloc’s antitrust rules in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump. More in today’s Europe Express on.ft.com/481ZATp

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has raised the EU’s Digital Markets Act directly in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the company said. It showcases how how Big Tech is using the Trump administration to lobby against the EU’s digital rules. on.ft.com/45ZLz69

The EU must be prepared to walk away from a trade deal with the US if Donald Trump acts on his threats to target the bloc unless it waters down its digital legislation, Teresa Ribera said. “We cannot be subject to the will of a third country.” With @henryjfoy.ft.com on.ft.com/47OlOrR

Europe’s roads and rail unfit for war with Russia, EU transport chief warns https://on.ft.com/4l3dace

EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said he is aiming to spend €17bn on overhauling the continent’s infrastructure to boost military mobility https://on.ft.com/44Tc7qu

Linsey McCallum will lead DG Competiton ad interim as the bloc has not yet decided who will ultimately replace Olivier Guersent, people briefed on the decision said. Background on the potential successors here ⬇️ on.ft.com/4lKC5Cs

Can Europe break free of American tech supremacy? The EU's dependence on US groups for critical digital infrastructure is scaring executives and policymakers - and making stark the dearth of homegrown alternatives @bmoens.bsky.social with today's @financialtimes.com big read on.ft.com/40Wl3c4

The European Commission has stalled one of its investigations into Elon Musk’s X for breaking the bloc’s digital transparency rules, while it seeks to conclude trade talks with the US. With @henryjfoy.ft.com on.ft.com/410Q0Mb

💥Von der Leyen botches €2tn EU budget proposal with chaotic infighting, as Brussels officials & member state diplomats warn her centralised & top-down approach has compromised launch of the bloc’s biggest ever common budget w dreamteam @paolatamma.bsky.social & @bmoens.bsky.social on.ft.com/3IyMD8Y

As fierce policy battles lie ahead for the EU's antitrust 'ayatollahs', they have to choose a new top civil servant for DG Competition. The decision will offer the first sign of how far the bloc might open the door to bigger-is-better mergers within the single market. www.ft.com/content/742d...

The chief executives of large European companies including Airbus and BNP Paribas have urged Brussels to halt its landmark artificial intelligence act ahead of key provisions kicking into force in August. With @tim.fo www.ft.com/content/a825...

The EU will set out plans on Wednesday to pool funding and expertise in quantum to build a competitive European ecosystem in the key technology. Interview with the EU's tech chief @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social on why this is important for the EU's tech sovereignty. www.ft.com/content/57b4...

💥 Apple to change App Store policies in the EU to give app developers more flexibility in a last-minute attempt to avoid a series of escalating fines from Brussels. www.ft.com/content/95d4... @financialtimes.com

European governments should buy equity in clean tech companies instead of handing out subsidies, the EU’s competition chief Teresa Ribera said ahead of today's new state aid framework. Interview here wit @alicemhancock.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/f957...

On Thursday, the EU's 27 leaders will discuss deepening the bloc's single market after a series of global crises have sharpened resolve. We took a deep dive into the EU's plan to finally make its single market work. Big Read with @alicemhancock.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/ae2a...

Apple is set to offer concessions to avoid new fines, people involved in the negotiations said, as the company is in last-minute talks with Brussels regulators ahead of a Thursday deadline. www.ft.com/content/b5d5...

Google dealt blow at EU’s top court over record €4.12bn competition fine www.ft.com/content/cd63...

Brussels is set to step up its investigation into Hungary’s retail tax today, which has been criticised as unfair by foreign supermarket chains. With @paolatamma.bsky.social in Europe Express on.ft.com/3TpV4FF

The EU's powerful competition directorate is pushing back against calls to subsidise operating costs of cleantech companies in order to compete with China. They argue that it's an unsustainable way to subsidise businesses. More on the internal fight here ⬇️ www.ft.com/content/36c4...

Great story on the ambitions - and challenges - of creating a European space champion through a complex Thales-Airbus-Leonardo deal @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social @bmoens.bsky.social @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/3HwnhZ0

The EU is launching an age verification app in July, which can lead to a tougher enforcement approach with social media platforms. “The protection of minors is a very important priority for us and we will take more action here” the EU’s tech chief Henna Virkkunen told the FT. on.ft.com/4dDZDWl

Denmark has rejected calls from Germany and France to scrap a planned EU supply chain law that has become symbolic of the bloc’s dilemma between meeting its ambitious climate goals and helping its ailing industry. With @alicemhancock.bsky.social on.ft.com/4mxkhLK

Brussels wants to allow EU governments to exclude foreign bidders in public procurement. The EU’s industry chief Stéphane Séjourné, sees public procurement as a “first step” before looking into Buy European in the private sector. With @alicemhancock.bsky.social on.ft.com/3YTr2NQ

Google is beefing up its “sovereign cloud” options in the EU, Hayete Galott, Google’s president of customer experience, told the Financial Times, as Europe worries about the Trump threat in tech. on.ft.com/4mvznBC

Policymakers in the EU should focus on fixing the bloc’s internal market rather than spending their energy on tariffs and defence projects, Enrico Letta says ahead of today’s internal market strategy. With @alicemhancock.bsky.social in today’s Europe Express www.ft.com/content/8cc8...

Transatlantic antitrust ties fray as US and EU regulators squabble, with layers in the US and Europe keeping a close eye on potential forks in antitrust policy. www.ft.com/content/4349...

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, said the company would take the US government to court if necessary to protect European customers’ access to its services amid worries over Donald Trump. More in our interview with @timbradshaw.bsky.social enterprise-sharing.ft.com/redeem/64a3f...

📣 Terugblik actualiteit 🇪🇺 maart in <25 minuten 🎙️ Host Joris Van der Poorten & gast @bmoens.bsky.social (Financial Times) ✅ tarievenoorlog 🇺🇸 ✅ Meloni op bezoek bij Trump 🫂 ✅ boetes voor Big Tech 📲 ✅ investeringen AI 🦾 ✅ Bart De Wever in 🇺🇦 👉 waaromeuropa.buzzsprout.com/1864822/epis...

Viktor Orbán’s government is being accused of handing more than €1bn in unlawful subsidies to pro-government media, adding to concerns that state support is being used to bolster the Hungarian leader’s grip on power. on.ft.com/3GHFnGL

The European Commission is set to investigate Universal Music Group’s planned $775mn acquisition of independent music services company Downtown Music, amid claims the deal will give too much power to the industry’s largest player. on.ft.com/42Mk4v6

Why Putin’s offer to Trump is a fake concession designed to lure Washington into forcing an unfair peace on Ukraine Plus, @bmoens.bsky.social on boosting EU tech players without harming US rivals All in today’s Europe Express briefing w @lauramdubois.ft.com on.ft.com/3EzEkrO

Germany’s neighbours are warming to relaxing EU state subsidy rules for the long term, as hope to gain from Berlin’s spending. “We are not going to complain now that the German locomotive is kicking off again” said one EU diplomat. With @alicemhancock.bsky.social on.ft.com/4cDx2zO

European telecom groups line up deals in hope of looser merger rules. One veteran telecoms M&A lawyer said that: “Once the commission green lights one major deal, we’ll see a wave of consolidation.” With @kieranjsmith.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/0834...

European governments and companies are increasingly turning to homegrown tech companies to reduce their reliance on American Tech, the CEO of OVHcloud said. ‘Geopolitics has entered the board rooms.’ Today’s Europe Express with @henryjfoy.ft.com @lauramdubois.ft.com on.ft.com/42z182L

💥 EU set to impose minimal fines on Apple and Facebook owner Meta next week under its Digital Markets Act, as Brussels seeks to avoid escalating tensions with US President Donald Trump. Big story from @bmoens.bsky.social @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/c393...