Samuel Stolton
@samuelstolton.bsky.social
European Competition Reporter at Bloomberg News. https://bloomberg.com/authors/AWTd_b4tFic/samuel-stolton Email: sstolton@bloomberg.net
Scoop❗️Donald Trump’s plans for a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia are bringing tensions between US and South Korean reactor developers to the fore, surfacing details of a clash over market access that has garnered interest from regulators:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-24/trump-s-saudi-deal-spurs-watchdog-interest-in-nuclear-settlement
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New: Paramount Skydance Corp. has formally asked the European Union to approve its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Paramount Seeks EU Green Light for $110 Billion Warner Deal
Paramount Skydance Corp. has formally asked the European Union to approve its $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.
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Scoop: Ferrero, maker of the popular chocolate spread Nutella, was the target of EU antitrust raids earlier this week, according to people familiar with the probe: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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Scoop: Google, the target for billions of euros in European Union antitrust fines, has been hit by a fresh EU probe over concerns it’s illegally rigging the cost of advertising on search, according to documents seen by Bloomberg: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google Hit by Fresh EU Antitrust Probe Over Search Ads Pricing
Google, the target for billions of euros in European Union antitrust fines, has been hit by a fresh EU probe over concerns it’s illegally rigging the cost of advertising on its search engine.
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At the 2026 Milano-Cortina games, would-be skiing champions, including Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA and Austria’s Raphael Haaser, will be clad in some labels at the center of an EU antitrust investigation... www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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Scoop: Paramount’s leadership has held talks in recent days with French President Emmanuel Macron amid a European charm offensive to garner support for its $108.4 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Paramount Holds Macron Talks in European Push for Warner Deal
Paramount Skydance Corp.’s leadership has held talks in recent days with French President Emmanuel Macron amid a European charm offensive to garner support for its $108.4 billion hostile bid for…
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New: Google has been hit by a European Union investigation over fears it may have abused its dominance by using its own artificial intelligence tools to squeeze out competition: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Opens Google Antitrust Probe Over AI Use of Online Content
Google has been hit by a European Union investigation over fears it may have abused its dominance by using its own artificial intelligence tools to squeeze out competition.
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Netflix’s €72 Billion Warner Bros deal: When your buyout is so big even antitrust regulators want a subscription. Binge watch it here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Netflix–Warner Bros. Deal Sets Up $72 Billion Antitrust Test
Netflix Inc. has won the heated takeover battle for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. Now it must convince global antitrust regulators that the deal won’t give it an illegal advantage in the streaming…
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Universal’s $775 million bid for Downtown is set to be hit by a formal warning from European Union watchdogs setting out concerns that the deal could stifle services to artists signed with independent labels: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Universal Faces EU Warning Over $775 Million Downtown Deal
Universal Music Group’s $775 million bid for Downtown Music Holdings is set to be hit by a formal warning from European Union watchdogs setting out concerns that the deal could stifle services to…
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New: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study the platforms’ market power: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Tech Giants’ Cloud Power Probed as EU Weighs Inclusion in DMA
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp.’s Azure, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Cloud risk being dragged into the scope of the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech as antitrust watchdogs prepare to study…
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Deutsche Boerse and Nasdaq risk hefty European Union fines after the bloc’s antitrust watchdog opened a full-scale investigation into a suspected cartel linked to listing, trading and clearing of derivatives: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Deutsche Boerse and Nasdaq Hit by EU Derivatives Cartel Probe
Deutsche Boerse AG and Nasdaq Inc. risk hefty European Union fines after the bloc’s antitrust watchdog opened a full-scale investigation into a suspected cartel linked to listing, trading and…
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Scoop: MMG’s $500 million purchase of Anglo American Plc's Brazilian nickel business will be hit by an in-depth EU investigation, with regulators concerned over how the deal could harm the bloc’s stainless-steel industry:
At the EU General Court in Luxembourg today, Apple lashed out at the EU’s attempts to tame the power of Silicon Valley in the most far-reaching legal challenge of the bloc’s Big Tech antitrust rules: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Apple Attacks EU Crackdown in Digital Law’s Biggest Court Test
Apple Inc. lashed out at the European Union’s attempts to tame the power of Silicon Valley in the most far-reaching legal challenge of the bloc’s Big Tech antitrust rules.
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New: Luxury fashion giants Gucci, Chloé and Loewe have been hit with European Union fines totaling more than €157 million ($182 million) for imposing allegedly illegal price curbs: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gucci, Chloé and Loewe Hit by €157 Million EU Antitrust Fines
Luxury fashion giants Gucci, Chloé and Loewe have been hit with European Union fines totaling more than €157 million ($182 million) for imposing allegedly illegal price curbs.
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US President Donald Trump won scores of European plaudits today, as he declared that “war is over” after sealing a landmark 20-point agreement to halt hostilities between Israel and Hamas: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
EU Relief as Trump Declares War Is Over and Hostages Released
Welcome to the Brussels Edition. I’m Sam Stolton, European competition reporter with Bloomberg, bringing you the latest from the European Union. Make sure you’re signed up.US President Donald Trump…
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New: OpenAI has raised concerns with European Union antitrust enforcers over potentially harmful conduct by the likes of Google, Microsoft and Apple: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
OpenAI Warns EU Antitrust Watchdogs of Big Tech’s Data Dominance
OpenAI has raised concerns with European Union antitrust enforcers over potentially harmful conduct by the likes of Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc.
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Sanofi was the target of a raid by European Union antitrust regulators over suspected “anticompetitive disparagement,” in the latest crackdown on firms allegedly bad-mouthing their rivals: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Vaccine Firm Raided by EU in ‘Disparagement’ Antitrust Case
Sanofi SA revealed it was the target of a raid by European Union antitrust regulators over suspected “anticompetitive disparagement,” in the latest crackdown on firms allegedly bad-mouthing their…
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New: ADNOC's nearly €12 billion takeover of Covestro is edging closer to European Union approval after talks with regulators paved the way for a package of commitments to be submitted as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the matter: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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New: Google will meet the EU’s deadline to propose changes to its advertising technology business after a near-€3 billion fine — but won’t include the full breakup the EU and industry rivals have previously pushed for: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google Readies EU Offer After €3 Billion Fine, Skips Full Split
Google will meet the European Union’s deadline to propose changes to its advertising technology business after a near-€3 billion ($3.5 billion) fine — but won’t include the full breakup the EU and…
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❗ Google fined almost €3 billion by the EU and ordered to stop favoring its own advertising technology services, in a move that risks further inflaming tensions with US President Donald Trump at a critical time in trade talks: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google Fined Almost €3 Billion by EU for Abusing Adtech Power
Alphabet Inc.’s Google was fined almost €3 billion ($3.5 billion) by the European Union and ordered to stop favoring its own advertising technology services, in a move that risks further inflaming…
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EU Commission ironing out the kinks in its Google Adtech decision: - Decision still due within days / weeks - Cease & desist order rather than a full-blown breakup - Expected to be smallest-ever EU Google antitrust fine But the 'kink' in question is a biggun'... www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google’s Adtech Fine Delayed as EU Frets Over Trump Backlash
The European Union paused its immediate plans to punish Alphabet Inc.’s Google for abusing its dominance over advertising technology amid fears that US President Donald Trump could hit back by…
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New: Italy has pushed back against EU criticism of Rome’s power to block or limit deals, which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently used in UniCredit's now-failed attempt to acquire Banco BPM. w/ Alessandra Migliaccio & Sonia Sirletti www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Italy Defends Right to Restrict UniCredit’s BPM Bid in EU Reply
Italy has pushed back against European Union criticism of Rome’s power to block or limit deals, which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently used in UniCredit SpA’s now-failed attempt to acquire…
bloomberg.com
But...'should' the #Pfizergate saga end? The Commission has forensic IT experts under its employ who are often tasked with identifying 'deleted' records. For example...
@rasmuskleis.bsky.social · last yr."The Pfizergate saga ends, for now, with the sad truth that seemingly no one can compel von der Leyen to play by the rules of a democracy, in which laws have to be followed, and officials communications are subject to scrutiny, even when it troubles the powerful" @alexfanta.bsky.social writes. 🧵⬇️
A stone plaque marks the house where the radical French artist lived from 1815 until his death in 1825.
Hidden Belgium: The house where Jacques Louis David died
A stone plaque marks the house where the radical French artist lived from 1815 until his death in 1825.
brusselstimes.com
New: Broadcom’s $61 billion acquisition of VMware faces scrutiny from EU judges, after a cloud computing group contested the European Commission’s approval of one of the world’s biggest tech deals: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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❗ NEW: The European Union is set to rebuke the Italian government for imposing harsh conditions on UniCredit’s takeover of Banco BPM, setting up a power struggle between Brussels and Rome over the fate of the deal: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU to Warn Italy It Overstepped on UniCredit’s Banco BPM Deal
The European Union is set to rebuke the Italian government for imposing harsh conditions on UniCredit SpA’s takeover of Banco BPM SpA, setting up a power struggle between Brussels and Rome over the fa...
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The European Union’s crackdown on Apple, Meta Google and others isn’t a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, according to Teresa Ribera, the EU’s competition chief: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU’s Ribera Won’t Trade Big Tech Rules to Placate Trump
The European Union’s crackdown on Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc.’s Google isn’t a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, according to Teresa Ribera,…
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Apple is poised to offer further App Store changes to appease European Union antitrust watchdogs who issued an ultimatum after doling out a €500 million ($580 million) fine: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Apple Poised to Offer App Store Changes to Dodge More EU Fines
Apple Inc. is poised to offer further App Store changes to appease European Union antitrust watchdogs who issued an ultimatum after doling out a €500 million ($580 million) fine.
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❗️ TikTok gets €530 million EU privacy fine for illegally sending user data to China, with the Irish data protection regulator warning the firm didn’t do enough to keep information out of reach from Chinese state services: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
TikTok Fined €530 Million for Illegally Sending EU Data to China
TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd. was fined €530 million ($600 million) by the European Union for illegally sending user data to China, warning the firm it didn’t do enough to keep information out of reach…
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❗ Malta’s “golden passports” program violates EU law, the bloc’s top court ruled in a case that could have transformed the EU into a haven for affluent foreigners at a time when US President Donald Trump wants to entice them across the Atlantic: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Top EU Court Bans ‘Golden Passports’ Sold to Rich Foreigners
Malta’s “golden passports” program for wealthy investors violates European Union rules on citizenship, the bloc’s top court ruled in a case that could have transformed the EU into a haven for…
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