Barbara Moens
@bmoens.bsky.social
8.9K followers 270 following 45 posts
EU correspondent Financial Times, covering tech and competition. Get in touch: [email protected]
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bmoens.bsky.social
Today is my first day at the @financialtimes.com. Very keen to talk about all things tech, digital and competition policy. You can reach me at [email protected]
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Meta and Apple are in the final stages of agreeing a deal with European regulators to change a range of business practices to settle antitrust cases with Brussels, as the US Big Tech groups seek to avoid a series of escalating fines.

Great scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social

on.ft.com/4q7W3d1
Meta and Apple close to settling EU antitrust cases
[FREE TO READ] US Big Tech groups in final stages of agreeing deal with Brussels to avoid series of escalating fines
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
The EU wants to reduce its tech reliance on US and China via a new Apply AI strategy, seen by the Financial Times, which promotes digital sovereignty.

The bloc warns AI can otherwise be “weaponised” by rivals.

With @henryjfoy.ft.com

on.ft.com/3WkfSjs
EU pushes new AI strategy to reduce tech reliance on US and China
[FREE TO READ] Brussels to unveil plan targeting digital sovereignty as it warns technology can be ‘weaponised’ by geopolitical rivals
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
The EU is preparing to start technical work on Ukraine and Moldova joining the bloc despite Hungary’s blockade of advancing accession talks, according to officials briefed on the process.

With @henryjfoy.ft.com @benhallnews.bsky.social @christopherjm.ft.com

on.ft.com/3IGHwnE
EU moves to advance Ukraine’s accession by sidestepping Hungary
[FREE TO READ] Brussels advises Kyiv to advance technical work despite Budapest holding up talks
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Prove your rules don’t target US tech or fix them, Trump’s ambassador to Brussels warns EU

“Obviously, if we’re going to have a good relationship going forward, you can’t have legislation that punishes... your ally,” Andrew Puzder tells @financialtimes.com

w @bmoens.bsky.social

on.ft.com/4nUQVXH
Brussels told to prove digital rules do not ‘punish’ US tech or fix them
[FREE TO READ] Donald Trump’s ambassador to EU says no US president can ‘allow these kinds of infringements’ on American companies
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
(Another) big digital EU-US scoop from @bmoens.bsky.social

EU targets Apple, Google and Microsoft over online financial scams, as Brussels probes US Big Tech groups and Booking Holdings over handling of fake apps and search results - despite Trump's ire at EU tech regulation

on.ft.com/46OYxoJ
EU targets Apple, Google and Microsoft over online financial scams
[FREE TO READ] Brussels to look closer into US Big Tech groups and Booking Holdings over handling of fake apps and search results
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Big story in the battle between Brussels and Big Tech:

The EU is poised to exclude Meta, Apple, Google and Amazon from a new system to share citizens’ financial data, in the face of Trump’s retaliation threats

@bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social with the news

on.ft.com/46tA9Yv
EU to block Big Tech from new financial data sharing system
[FREE TO READ] Germany argues groups such as Apple and Meta are excluded to protect Europe’s ‘digital sovereignty’
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Draghi puts the boot into Brussels, blaming "inaction", "inertia" and "complacency" for failing to implement economic reforms that mean the EU has fallen further behind global rivals such as China & the US

on.ft.com/48hey86

w crack competitiveness crew @bmoens.bsky.social & @paolatamma.bsky.social
EU economy falls behind global rivals due to ‘complacency’, warns Mario Draghi
[FREE TO READ] Former Italian PM frustrated with ‘inaction’ a year after his report on how to improve Europe’s competitiveness
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
Mario Draghi equally impatient: "A review of merger guidelines is under way, but industry cannot wait until 2027— the deadline consistent with the procedure that was chosen. Resilience and innovation must be built into competition policy now."
bmoens.bsky.social
"We will have to advance the publication of the merger guidelines. I think it's now time to deliver", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech, after we reported this weekend that competition chief Teresa Ribera is increasingly under pressure.

www.ft.com/content/9e51...
Antitrust chief Teresa Ribera under pressure as EU merger reform drifts
Commission’s executive vice-president has yet to lay out policy vision, creating uncertainty for dealmakers
www.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Despite orders to “modernise the EU’s competition policy”, and rising pressure from industry to clearly define her vision, Ribera has moved cautiously - while prioritising other political interests

A brilliant insight into the EU’s antitrust uncertainty by @bmoens.bsky.social

on.ft.com/3K14tSH
Antitrust chief Teresa Ribera under pressure as EU merger reform drifts
[FREE TO READ] Commission’s executive vice-president has yet to lay out policy vision, creating uncertainty for dealmakers
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
paolatamma.bsky.social
One year on, implementation of Mario Draghi's recipe for Europe's economic renaissance is shy and partial, as EU headspace has been preoccupied with crisis mode, analysis found. @alicemhancock.bsky.social @bmoens.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/4423...
Europe slow-walks Draghi plan as global rivals surge
A year after former Italian PM’s report on competitiveness, EU implements just 11% of his ideas
www.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
Belgium is open to discuss riskier ways to maximise profits arising from Russian immobilised assets, provided the EU shares the legal risks, its foreign minister told @lauramdubois.ft.com and me - an option just suggested by Ursula von der Leyen in her SOTEU.

on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
Belgium to soften stance on frozen Russian assets if EU shares risk
[FREE TO READ] Foreign minister warns bloc not to ‘kill the hen laying golden eggs’
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
Reposted by Barbara Moens
bmoens.bsky.social
Ursula von der Leyen has appointed Michele Piergiovanni to her cabinet as competition adviser, amid tensions in the European Commission over enforcing the bloc’s antitrust rules in the face of threats from US President Donald Trump.

More in today’s Europe Express

on.ft.com/481ZATp
Are Ukraine’s ‘coalition’ allies willing to turn words into action?
[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: The European Commission’s stop-gap solutions for its competition problems
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has raised the EU’s Digital Markets Act directly in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the company said. It showcases how how Big Tech is using the Trump administration to lobby against the EU’s digital rules.

on.ft.com/45ZLz69
How Meta is using the Trump administration to lobby against EU tech rules
[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: Two of Europe’s most pro-Russian leaders travel to Beijing for a military parade
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
The EU must be prepared to walk away from a trade deal with the US if Donald Trump acts on his threats to target the bloc unless it waters down its digital legislation, Teresa Ribera said.

“We cannot be subject to the will of a third country.”

With @henryjfoy.ft.com

on.ft.com/47OlOrR
Stand up to Trump on Big Tech, says EU antitrust chief
[FREE TO READ] Bloc must be prepared to walk away from trade deal with US if it retaliates against Brussels’ digital laws, warns Teresa Ribera
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
financialtimes.com
EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said he is aiming to spend €17bn on overhauling the continent’s infrastructure to boost military mobility https://on.ft.com/44Tc7qu
bmoens.bsky.social
Linsey McCallum will lead DG Competiton ad interim as the bloc has not yet decided who will ultimately replace Olivier Guersent, people briefed on the decision said.

Background on the potential successors here ⬇️

on.ft.com/4lKC5Cs
EU’s antitrust ‘ayatollahs’ face crisis of faith
[FREE TO READ] The department that defined Brussels’ muscular market liberalism is entering a profound period of change
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
Can Europe break free of American tech supremacy?

The EU's dependence on US groups for critical digital infrastructure is scaring executives and policymakers - and making stark the dearth of homegrown alternatives

@bmoens.bsky.social with today's @financialtimes.com big read

on.ft.com/40Wl3c4
Can Europe break free of American tech supremacy?
[FREE TO READ] The continent’s dependence on US groups for digital infrastructure is causing growing concern among executives and policymakers
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
The European Commission has stalled one of its investigations into Elon Musk’s X for breaking the bloc’s digital transparency rules, while it seeks to conclude trade talks with the US.

With @henryjfoy.ft.com

on.ft.com/410Q0Mb
Brussels stalls probe into Elon Musk’s X amid US trade talks
[FREE TO READ] EU was expected to finalise its investigation before the bloc’s summer recess but will now miss this deadline
on.ft.com
Reposted by Barbara Moens
henryjfoy.ft.com
💥Von der Leyen botches €2tn EU budget proposal with chaotic infighting, as Brussels officials & member state diplomats warn her centralised & top-down approach has compromised launch of the bloc’s biggest ever common budget

w dreamteam @paolatamma.bsky.social & @bmoens.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3IyMD8Y
Von der Leyen botches €2tn EU budget proposal with chaotic infighting
[FREE TO READ] Centralised and chaotic process has compromised launch of commission president’s spending plan, colleagues say
on.ft.com
bmoens.bsky.social
As fierce policy battles lie ahead for the EU's antitrust 'ayatollahs', they have to choose a new top civil servant for DG Competition.

The decision will offer the first sign of how far the bloc might open the door to bigger-is-better mergers within the single market.

www.ft.com/content/742d...
EU’s antitrust ‘ayatollahs’ face crisis of faith
The department that defined Brussels’ muscular market liberalism is entering a profound period of change
www.ft.com