Barbara Moens

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. https://t.co/UXMGuLUjZW

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. With @annaknicolaou https://t.co/aDHPWyFW0c

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 https://t.co/xK4VHHWXac

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.” https://t.co/Bzz6nDpPwa

The EU is set to impose minimal fines on Apple and Meta under its digital rules, as Brussels seeks to avoid escalating tensions with Trump. “This is a crucial test for the Commission,” a person from one of the affected companies said. With @HenryJFoy https://t.co/Ly0J269D3s

RT @AndyBounds: EU looks to hit Big Tech in crackdown on US services exports https://t.co/8bBT5OZ4kn via @financialtimes @BMoens @HenryJFoy

Architects of the EU’s landmark artificial intelligence act have urged Brussels in a letter to halt “dangerous” moves to water down the upcoming AI code of practice. With @Melissahei https://t.co/RM02OhbcAn

RT @deafspraaktv: Vanavond in #deafspraak: @general_marcT en @BMoens over de Europese defensietop, @Davidvanrey over zijn essay 'De wereld…

RT @AndyBounds: SCOOP EU probes BYD plant in Hungary. Raises trade tensions with Beijing further. Brussels determined that Chinese investme…

EU continues Big Tech crackdown under the landmark Digital Markets Act despite trade tensions with the US, taking action against Google and Apple. https://t.co/sd50j4KQlm

Proton, Airbus and dozens other businesses and associations are urging Brussels to invest more in the bloc’s digital infrastructure as Europe wakes up to its heavy reliance on US digital infrastructure. In Europe Express with @lauramdubois @HenryJFoy https://t.co/3ET9f3htQf

How Joel Kaplan became Mark Zuckerberg’s most trusted political fixer. Interesting profile by @MsHannahMurphy https://t.co/sA56m9zauT

RT @AndyBounds: Xi Jinping snubs EU-China anniversary summit despite China’s warm overtures to EU to defend multilateral order v Donald Tru…

Tune in at 12h for a conversation on ‘How to generate growth through digital sovereignty’ with Orange CEO @Cheydema , Finance Minister @Domanski_Andrz and @MacaesBruno which I’ll be moderating. https://t.co/109HiqkkCL

French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci wants to help the struggling steel sector via more state aid and stronger safeguards for steel as companies such as ArcelorMittal are dragging their feet on green investments. In Europe Express with @HenryJFoy https://t.co/3H1w36xFcS

Brussels is to extend the EU’s lenient approach to policing state subsidies, as it unveils guidelines this week that will allow EU countries to keep pouring cash into cleantech investments until the end of the decade. https://t.co/76uzPZEf3m

The EU’s competition chief Teresa Ribera wants to take innovation, environmental and social standards more into account when policing mergers, she told the FT in an interview. More in today’s Europe Express with @HenryJFoy @lauramdubois https://t.co/x7v1VxZoRe