Commission Unconditionally Approves Arla's Acquisition of DMK and DOC
The European Commission has given an unconditional approval for Arla Foods’ acquisition of German dairy cooperative DMK and Dutch‑German cooperative DOC under the EU Merger Regulation. The review covered raw milk procurement and the supply of dairy and whey‑based products across five EU markets and found no competition concerns. Arla’s cooperative model, which pays a uniform price to all member farmers, was a key factor in the decision. The clearance removes regulatory hurdles for a deal that expands Arla’s farmer base by roughly 4,600 members.
Commission Approves €9 Billion Spanish Capacity Mechanism for Security of Electricity Supply
The European Commission has cleared a €9 billion (≈ $9.7 billion) capacity mechanism for Spain to guarantee electricity‑supply security. The 10‑year scheme, kicking off in May 2026, will allocate about €900 million (≈ $972 million) annually to remunerate generation, storage and demand‑response capacity that can be called...
Commission Approves €1.3 Billion German State Aid to Support Renewable Hydrogen Production
The European Commission has cleared a €1.3 billion (≈US$1.4 bn) German state‑aid programme that finances renewable‑hydrogen production through the European Hydrogen Bank’s Auctions‑as‑a‑Service tool. The scheme will fund up to 1,000 MW of electrolyser capacity, targeting 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen and an...
Commission Unconditionally Approves Suzano's Acquisition of Kimberly-Clark IFP
The European Commission has given unconditional approval to Suzano's acquisition of Kimberly‑Clark's International Family Care & Professional (IFP) unit, concluding the deal raises no competition concerns in the European Economic Area. Suzano, a leading global producer of bleached eucalyptus kraft...
Commission Invites Comments on Draft Revised State Aid Rules for Air Transport
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on draft revised Guidelines for State aid to the air‑transport sector, replacing the 2014 rules. The new framework narrows operating‑aid eligibility, allowing block‑exempt support for airports under 500,000 passengers and transitional aid...
Commission Approves €5 Billion German State Aid Scheme to Support Decarbonisation of Industry
The European Commission has cleared a €5 billion German state‑aid programme that will subsidise decarbonisation projects in sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System. The scheme uses 15‑year two‑way carbon contracts for difference, rewarding firms for the cost gap between...
Commission Approves over €800 Million in State Aid to Lithuanian Development Bank
The European Commission approved a €813 million (≈$887 million) equity injection and €15 million (≈$16 million) per‑year tax‑exemption package for Lithuania’s development bank ILTE. The aid targets projects that face market‑failure financing gaps across agriculture, renewable energy, district heating, building refurbishment, transport, defence, digital...
Commission Adopts Temporary State Aid Framework to Support Sectors Affected by Middle East Crisis
The European Commission has introduced the Middle East crisis Temporary State aid Framework (METSAF), a targeted scheme that runs until 31 December 2026 to help sectors most exposed to soaring fuel and fertilizer costs. It lets Member States compensate up to 70%...
Commission Opens Consultation on Draft of New Merger Guidelines
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on a draft EU Merger Guidelines that will replace the existing horizontal and non‑horizontal rules. The new framework emphasizes innovation, sustainability, scale and resilience, introducing concepts such as an “Innovation Shield” for...
Commission Opens In-Depth Investigation Into Proposed Joint Venture Between UPM and Sappi
The European Commission has launched a Phase II in‑depth investigation into the proposed joint venture between Finland’s UPM‑Kymmene and South Africa’s Sappi. Both firms are the EU’s largest producers of communication paper, and the merger would create a market leader in...
Commission Services and EDPB Will Start Joint Work on Guidance on the Interplay Between EU Competition Law and Data Protection...
The European Commission’s competition services and the European Data Protection Board have agreed to produce joint guidance on how EU competition law and data‑protection rules intersect. The effort will focus on specific scenarios where privacy considerations influence antitrust analysis and...
Commission Unconditionally Approves RTL's Acquisition of Sky DACH
The European Commission has given unconditional approval to RTL Deutschland’s acquisition of Sky German Holdings under the EU Merger Regulation. The regulator concluded the deal poses no competition risks across audiovisual content supply, TV wholesale, retail services, or advertising markets...
Commission Approves €411 Million Croatian Capital Injection Into Development Bank HBOR
The European Commission has cleared a €411 million (approximately $447 million) capital injection into Croatia’s development bank HBOR, financed through the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. The funding expands HBOR’s mandate to back SMEs, renewable‑energy projects, digital transformation, infrastructure and the defence...
Commission Opens In-Depth Investigation Into Romanian State Aid to Support Refurbishment of Cernavoda 1 Nuclear Reactor
The European Commission has launched an in‑depth investigation into Romania’s €3.2 billion (≈ $3.5 billion) state aid package for refurbishing Unit 1 of the Cernavodă nuclear plant. The aid includes a €600 million (≈ $654 million) grant, loan guarantees, a 30‑year two‑way contract for difference and a...
Commission Approves Bulgarian, German and Slovenian State Aid Schemes Providing Temporary Electricity Price Relief for Energy-Intensive Companies
On 13 April 2026 the European Commission cleared state‑aid programmes in Bulgaria, Germany and Slovenia that subsidise electricity for energy‑intensive firms. The schemes total roughly $4.6 billion – €334 million ($364 m) for Bulgaria, €3.8 billion ($4.14 b) for Germany and €90 million ($98 m) for Slovenia – and...