Tessera

The EU is considering to overhaul its merger rules to curb national powers to block corporate takeovers in a bid to help European companies build the scale to compete with US and Chinese rivals. as.ft.com/r/fd8d0995-3...

EU weighs curbs on national powers to block mergers

[FREE TO READ] Several failed banking takeovers have prompted Brussels to consider changes to bloc’s rules

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European businesses warn Brussels' tech sovereignty push could hit profits and undermine competitiveness “In Europe today we are not truly in the position to substitute all our IT solutions . . . with European solutions,” said Ilse Henne of Thyssenkrupp Material Services www.ft.com/content/95fe...

European businesses warn Brussels over push to end reliance on US tech

Companies argue that ‘tech sovereignty’ drive could hit profits and undermine continent’s competitiveness

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Deep dive in the transatlantic censorship debate. In Brussels, the US' attacks have been met with disbelief and anger. For Silicon Valley, the spat presents opportunities and risks to appease both the US and European regulators. With @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/37d4...

The transatlantic battle over free speech

EU efforts to regulate the digital sphere are under attack from the Trump administration and, increasingly, Silicon Valley

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European military officials are concerned that talk about “tech sovereignty” could have serious consequences for the continent’s security, given their armies’ reliance on US software and networks to run critical systems. “It’s just not possible,” said one. as.ft.com/r/4e816169-1...

Europe’s ‘tech sovereignty’ ambitions carry security risks, military warns

[FREE TO READ] European top brass sceptical about politicians’ push to decouple from US tech companies

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The problems, including an EU probe, piling up for the fast-fashion company Shein that has rocked the world of ecommerce since the pandemic. A deep dive with William Langley in HK and Adrienne Klasa in Paris. www.ft.com/content/3779...

The problems piling up at fast-fashion giant Shein

Regulatory probes and the ending of customs loopholes pose big challenges, but its business model is highly resilient

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Alice Hancock @alicemhancock.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Google’s top legal officer Kent Walker warned that Europe risks undermining its own competitiveness drive by restricting access to foreign technology by ‘erecting walls’ as Brussels steps up efforts to reduce its reliance on US tech giants. Interview ⬇️ as.ft.com/r/9ff5c35a-d...

Google warns EU against ‘erecting walls’ in tech sovereignty push

[FREE TO READ] Europe risks undermining its own competitiveness drive through curbs on US groups, tech company says

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Europe must avoid a “war” between member states and Brussels over speed of deregulation and competitiveness issues, the Belgian PM has warned. On the ground from the Alden Biesen leaders’ retreat w/ @bmoens.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/2cf55296-0...

EU must avoid ‘war’ with member states over deregulation, Belgian PM warns

[FREE TO READ] Bart De Wever says European Commission should not get ‘all the blame’ ahead of leaders’ summit

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Europe’s telecom industry is losing momentum in its push to persuade Brussels to loosen the EU’s merger rules to allow more consolidation, especially within countries. as.ft.com/r/3bbcc263-9...

The fading hopes of Europe’s telcos

[FREE TO READ] Sector companies are struggling to win Brussels’ backing for consolidation

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EU capitals have to set aside national interests and finally tackle the bloc’s regulatory inertia, according to António Costa. He called on leaders to “give a very strong political message to their governments.” With @alicemhancock.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com as.ft.com/r/aadb1088-2...

EU needs a ‘big bang’ on regulation, says top official

[FREE TO READ] European Council president António Costa blames national capitals for inertia that has left economy trailing China

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The EU is this week set to approve Universal Music Group’s planned $775mn acquisition of Downtown Music, people briefed on the decision said, despite claims that the deal would hand too much power to the industry’s largest player. www.ft.com/content/627a...

Universal’s Downtown Music takeover to get EU blessing

Biggest label will offload royalty services business to allay competition concerns

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European countries are edging closer to broad social media bans for children, even as doubts persist over how to implement them and the risk of a new battle with US tech groups. A deep dive with Leila Abboud & @NicFildes www.ft.com/content/cf46...

Can Europe get kids off social media?

Move follows Australia’s decision to introduce age restrictions over child safety concerns

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Europe should focus on investing in tech instead of creating more digital legislation, Dariusz Standerski, state secretary at Poland’s digital affairs ministry, said about the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act and the Quantum Act. www.ft.com/content/ff37...

Putin’s week-long ‘ceasefire’ will test Kremlin’s appetite for peace

Also in this newsletter: Poland calls for more tech money, not red tape

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The EU should not “renounce anything that may be necessary to defend its interests” if US President Donald Trump delivers on his threats, the bloc’s competition chief @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu told the FT. With @andybounds.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/6360241b-a...

EU should not hold back on Trump retaliation, says bloc’s competition chief

[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: Europe replaces one gas dependency for another

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Brussels has drawn up detailed options for retaliation, officials said, but is holding back its strongest measure in the hope of a diplomat solution. @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social told the FT the priority is engagement, but that "we have also tools at our disposal here." www.ft.com/content/1ef9...

Denmark dispatches additional troops to Greenland as tensions rise

Donald Trump declines to rule out using force to seize control of Arctic island

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EU to bar Chinese suppliers such as Huawei from critical infrastructure such as telecom and solar panels, as Brussels rethinks it security and tech policies. as.ft.com/r/06943136-8...

Brussels in move to bar Chinese suppliers from EU’s critical infrastructure

[FREE TO READ] Proposed Cybersecurity Act would phase out groups such as Huawei and ZTE from telecom networks and solar energy systems

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European officials and companies are increasingly concerned over Elon Musk’s possible future control over a strategically sensitive slice of the EU satellite spectrum used for mobile services such as cell phones. More in today's Europe Express newsletter www.ft.com/content/7531...

EU frets over possible takeover of satellite frequencies by Musk’s Starlink

Also in this newsletter: Europe’s pallet industry under pressure from bureaucracy and trade woes

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EU competition chief @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu is facing a delicate tightrope on how the EU will police mergers, while also deciding on new leadership at DG Comp. Ribera wants a decision soon and prefers a woman that is “sound" and "respected," she told the FT. www.ft.com/content/2c9c...

Showdown in Brussels over competition policy is nearing

The EU’s rewrite of merger guidelines has become a battleground for how much leeway companies should have on M&A

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This year, the EU faces a difficult balancing act as it wants to enforce its digital rules without provoking Trump into siding with Russia on Ukraine. "You’re just a little bit more quiet perhaps than you otherwise would be” said Fiona Scott Morton. www.ft.com/content/ca6f...

EU readies tougher tech enforcement in 2026 as Trump warns of retaliation

Challenges to Google, Meta, Apple and X will test Brussels’ willingness to stick with digital rule book

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