Scheduled for the upcoming week, Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s antitrust chief, is poised to engage in discussions with high-profile executives from leading tech companies in the United States. The slated meetings encompass dialogues with Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, Kent Walker, Chief Legal Officer of Alphabet, Hock Tan, CEO of Broadcom, and Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia. These discussions are set to unfold in San Francisco and Palo Alto over the course of Thursday and Friday.
A Shift in Approach: Vestager’s Return and Anticipated Firm Stance
Having recently resumed her position following an unsuccessful bid to head the European Investment Bank, Vestager is anticipated to adopt a more assertive stance in both merger and competition investigations. The primary focal points of these discussions will revolve around European digital regulation and competition policy.
A particularly noteworthy interaction is expected to occur during Vestager’s meeting with Tim Cook. Conversations are likely to encompass Apple’s recent proposal, wherein the company offers rivals access to its tap-and-go mobile payments systems. This proposition is positioned as an attempt to address Vestager’s ongoing investigation and potentially avert a substantial fine. The European Commission is slated to gather feedback from competitors and customers throughout this month before arriving at a final decision.
Simultaneously, Vestager’s meeting with Alphabet on January 11 aligns with a pivotal event. An adviser to Europe’s top court is scheduled to provide a non-binding recommendation on whether to accept or reject Alphabet unit Google’s appeal. This appeal pertains to a substantial €2.42 billion ($2.6 billion) EU antitrust fine related to market abuse concerning its shopping service.
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