Apps

EU drafts antitrust update letting dominant firms cite public benefits, critics warn

The EU is revamping antitrust guidance to let dominant firms defend certain practices that would normally raise competition concerns if they deliver sustainability, public-policy goals, or resilience in supply chains, and to clarify when dominance applies. Critics warn that the broader allowances could blur anti-competitive abuse with pro-competitive efficiency, risking unfair dominance.

Teresa Ribera

20h

Tech

EU places ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under toughest rules, threatens steep fines

The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act, signaling tougher EU oversight for these services due to their large user bases. The three must implement risk assessments and other obligations within four months, with the possibility of penalties reaching up to six percent of global revenue for noncompliance.

OpenAI Roblox

4d

Politics

Iceland Rejects Restart of EU Talks; Security Ties Emphasized

Preliminary tallies from Iceland’s referendum show an extremely close split on whether to resume EU accession talks, with reports ranging from a slight yes to a slim no as counting continued. Regardless of the advisory vote, any path to membership would still require lengthy negotiations and a subsequent referendum before becoming actual membership, reflecting deep national divisions over sovereignty, fisheries, and security.

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir

6d

Tech

EU seeks information on Oracle licensing practices

EU antitrust regulators are widening scrutiny of Oracle’s cloud software licensing, collecting information from third parties to assess potential anti-competitive practices, though no formal investigation has been announced. The inquiries echo ongoing concerns about licensing terms and switching costs in cloud markets, given Oracle’s entrenched databases and long-standing disputes with European customers.

3d

World

EU suspends Brazilian meat imports pending animal-health audit results

The EU has suspended imports of Brazilian meat and related products for failing to prove compliance with its antibiotic and safety standards, with audits underway to determine whether the ban will be extended or lifted. The move, part of pressure on Brazil under the EU-Mercosur framework, comes as the country remains a major supplier and amid parallel safety concerns referenced in the UK and US contexts, including a Trump tariff waiver that opens U.S. beef markets and renewed calls for a UK-wide ban.

The European Union Brazilian

3d

Tech

Google plans EU spam-policy tweak to avert fines

Google will not apply manual actions under its site reputation abuse policy to European Economic Area search results starting August 30, 2026, effectively separating how parasite SEO demotions are enforced in the EU from elsewhere in the world. The change comes amid EU regulatory scrutiny and DMA penalties, prompting a regional split in spam enforcement and eliciting industry commentary on Google’s stance and strategy.

Aug 28, 2026

Tech

Poland seeks EU €250 million Meta fine

Poland has formally asked the European Commission to fine Meta €250 million for failing to curb fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, citing CERT Polska findings that 86.8% of flagged scam ads were not removed. The push comes amid ongoing disputes over Meta’s liability for ads and its efforts to fight scams, a backdrop that could influence EU-wide handling of platform moderation.

Aug 27, 2026

Finance

Philips prices EU Green Bond under new standard

Royal Philips priced a €650 million fixed-rate note due 2034 under its EMTN program, marking the healthcare sector’s first EU Green Bond under the new European Green Bond Standard, with a 4.0% coupon, 99.655% price, and 4.055% yield, oversubscribed 2.7 times. Settlement is set for August 28, 2026, and proceeds will fund taxonomy-aligned green activities while gross debt will rise temporarily until the 2027 bond is repaid; the issue is not expected to increase net debt, and the company aims to maintain its investment-grade rating.

Koninklijke Philips NV

Aug 24, 2026

World

Norway Pushes Arctic Drilling Ahead Despite EU Opposition

Norway will continue developing Barents Sea oil and gas despite the EU's Arctic drilling moratorium, arguing that Arctic resources are crucial for maintaining European energy security and that production should stay near current levels through 2035. The government rejects the label of Europe’s “green battery” and emphasizes flexibility to export Barents outputs globally amid ongoing EU policy debates.

The European Union Norwegian

Aug 24, 2026

Finance

EU sanctions HTX over Russia links

The European Union broadened its Russia sanctions to include HTX, the Justin Sun‑linked crypto exchange formerly known as Huobi, labeling it among 18 crypto-related entities suspected of helping Moscow evade restrictions. The package imposes transaction bans rather than asset freezes, extends restrictions to 14 third-country crypto platforms, and signals potential future full bans on foreign crypto services that enable evasion, with the UK having moved earlier in May.

Russian United Kingdom

Jul 24, 2026

World

China expands export ban to 14 EU entities

China expanded its export controls by adding 14 EU entities to its list, banning the export of dual-use items and halting related transactions as a security measure amid ongoing tensions with Brussels over sanctions and strategic technologies. The move broadens enforcement, signaling Beijing’s use of economic statecraft against European firms aligned with or aiding rivals, including in response to EU sanctions on Russia.

People's Republic of China Russian

Jul 24, 2026

Business

EU-GMP certification awarded to Safari Flower Niagara facility

Safari Flower Company, a subsidiary of Aurora Cannabis, has earned European Union Good Manufacturing Practice certification for its 59,000-square-foot Ontario facility for a three-year term, strengthening its ability to supply international medical cannabis markets. Aurora acquired Safari in April 2026 to expand EU-GMP capacity and integrate it into its global manufacturing network, supporting demand from European markets such as Germany, Poland, and the UK.

United Kingdom Europe

Jul 23, 2026

Business

EU approval of Saudi PIF EA deal

The European Commission has approved Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund-led $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, with the deal cleared under EU merger rules after regulators found no competition concerns. It is also being reviewed under the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation, with a decision due by July 30, highlighting a landmark investment in gaming and entertainment while EA remains headquartered in California.

The European Union Reuters

Jul 23, 2026

Health

EU Approves Etcamah in First-Line ER+ Breast Cancer

AstraZeneca’s Etcamah (camizestrant) won EU approval to be used with CDK4/6 inhibitors as a first-line treatment for ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer in patients with ESR1 mutations, based on SERENA-6 trial results showing a 56% reduction in progression or death. The drug already has approvals in Japan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with U.S. review ongoing and the EU decision highlighting its potential to expand AstraZeneca’s oncology footprint as it targets endocrine-resistant disease.

United States of America United States Food and Drug Administration

Jul 23, 2026

World

EU intercepts shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean

EU naval missions IRINI and ATALANTA are stepping up flag-verification boardings of vessels suspected to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, including the MV SOUTH STAR in the Mediterranean, as part of a broader effort to couple sanctions with maritime actions. EU officials, led by Kaja Kallas, say these measures tighten the net on illicit Russian oil shipments to choke Kremlin funding and reinforce maritime security.

Kaja Kallas

Jul 22, 2026

Auto

Seeing Machines secures US$5M European DMS program

Seeing Machines has won a European OEM driver and occupant monitoring program through a Tier 1 supplier, integrating its system into rear-view mirror assemblies with production expected in 2028 and about $5 million in lifetime revenue, expanding its automotive pipeline. The award highlights regulatory-driven demand under the EU General Safety Regulation and a shift to scalable, mirror-based camera sensing across multiple platforms, reinforcing the company’s leadership amid its ongoing profitability challenges.

The European Union

Jul 22, 2026

Tech

Trump Opens 301 Tariff Probe Against EU Tech Fines

A bloc of U.S. lawmakers urged President Trump to challenge Europe’s tech regulations, pressing for trade-action options such as Section 301 investigations over the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, which they say unfairly burden American tech firms. They warn that failure to resolve the dispute could lead to retaliatory measures and emphasize that the EU should not leverage access to the U.S. market as a bargaining chip.

Donald John Trump

Jul 21, 2026

World

EU Halts Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia

The European Union halted a €2 million grant to Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after approving the reopening of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, citing democratic values, open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression. The move follows widespread protests from Kyiv and the EU and comes amid broader backlash to Russia’s participation in a biennale that had been boycotted since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Jul 21, 2026

Tech

EU Fines Google €890M Under DMA, Largest Yet

EU regulators are poised to fine Google under the Digital Markets Act, with reports of a potential one‑billion‑euro penalty for suspected search bias and Play Store anti‑steering practices, signaling the DMA’s first major enforcement action against a gatekeeper. The move follows the EU’s 4.125‑billion Android ruling and comes as AI‑driven search features raise concerns about publisher traffic and Alphabet’s market position amid regulatory scrutiny.

Donald John Trump The European Union