The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation to assess whether Deutsche Börse and Nasdaq breached EU competition rules by co-ordinating their conduct in the sector for listing, trading and clearing of financial derivatives in the European Economic Area (EEA). If proven, the Commission says the exchange operators could have breached EU competition rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices (Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement).

The European Commission and national consumer authorities from 27 countries have released findings from an investigation of 356 online second-hand goods traders, revealing 52% potentially breach EU consumer law. The investigation, completed in March 2025, found 57% of traders failed to honour minimum one-year legal guarantees, while 40% inadequately informed consumers of withdrawal rights. Consumer Protection Cooperation authorities will now pursue compliance actions against 185 traders identified for further investigation under national procedures.

The European Commission has issued preliminary findings to Alphabet under the EU Digital Markets Act (EU DMA) regarding two potential breaches. The Commission alleges Google Search gives preferential treatment to Alphabet's own services in search results, and that Google Play store prevents app developers from steering users to alternative payment channels. The findings, issued on 19 March 2025, follow Alphabet's designation as a gatekeeper on 5 September 2023. Alphabet now has the opportunity to respond before any potential non-compliance decision is made.

The European Commission has published Guidelines on prohibited artificial intelligence practices as defined by Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act). These non-binding guidelines aim to ensure consistent application of the Act across the EU by providing legal explanations and practical examples of unacceptable AI practices. The document covers areas such as harmful manipulation, social scoring, and real-time remote biometric identification. Whilst approved, the guidelines await formal adoption and emphasise that authoritative interpretations remain the purview of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The European Commission has taken action against several EU Member States for failing to notify the complete transposition of 15 EU directives into national law by the applicable deadlines. It has sent letters of formal notice, giving the Member States two months to respond and complete transposition, after which it may issue reasoned opinions. The action concerns directives relating to migration and asylum, justice, the environment, financial services, energy, transport, consumer protection, agriculture and the internal market.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy published its Opinion (C/2025/2004) on 16 May 2025 regarding the draft statutory documents of the European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH). The Opinion examines the proposed articles of association, rules of procedure, and list of members for the association, and underscores the necessity for the future hydrogen transmission network operators to commence cooperation without delay while ensuring that the regulatory framework complies with EU legislation. The Commission’s findings echo those previously issued by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) following its public stakeholder consultation in December 2024. In consequence, the future network operators are now required to finalise and publish the statutory documents by early July 2025, taking into account both the Commission’s and ACER’s opinions. This development forms a pivotal element of the Hydrogen and Gas Market Decarbonisation Package, under which ENNOH is expected to contribute to the Hydrogen Ten Year Network Development Plan and to establish harmonised technical and operational rules for an interconnected hydrogen system, assuming full responsibility from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas as of 1 January 2027.

The European Commission has released a Q&A document on the obligation of manufacturers and other economic operators in case of an interruption and discontinuation of the supply of certain devices under Articles 10a of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR)) and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (the In Vitro Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR)), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1860 on the gradual rollout of European Database on Medical Devices. The document covers areas including the devices Articles 10a of the MDR and IVDR applies to, who and when should manufacturers inform in case of interruption and discontinuation of supply, how manufacturers should assess this and the responsibility of economic operators.

The European Commission has issued two sets of binding specification measures directed at Google under the EU Digital Markets Act (EU DMA). The first requires Google to provide third-party artificial intelligence (AI) assistants with equivalent access to Android operating system functionalities, including voice activation and the ability to perform in-app actions. Implementation is required by July 2027. The second requires Google to share search data with third-party search engines and artificial intelligence chatbots that offer search functionality. The data-sharing arrangements are subject to a multi-layered anonymisation framework developed in cooperation with the European Data Protection Board and are due to commence in January 2027. Both decisions remain subject to judicial review.

The European Commission has adopted two binding specification decisions under the EU Digital Markets Act (EU DMA) on 19 March 2025, detailing how Apple must implement interoperability obligations. The first decision mandates access to nine iOS connectivity features for third-party device manufacturers, while the second improves the transparency of Apple's developer interoperability request process. These represent the European Commission's first detailed EU DMA compliance measures following Apple's gatekeeper designation for iOS and iPadOS. The decisions stem from specification proceedings opened in September 2024 and a public consultation launched in December 2024.

The European Commission has taken action against several EU Member States for failing to notify complete transposition of EU Directives into national law following recent deadlines. It has sent letters of formal notice, giving the Member States two months to respond and complete transposition, after which it may issue reasoned opinions. The action concerns directives relating to consumers for the green transition, recognition of professional qualifications and workers’ protection

The European Commission has published guidance to support EU countries, national regulatory authorities and transmission and distribution system operators in implementing anticipatory investments to ensure electricity grids are fit for future energy demands. The document provides recommendations on network planning, regulatory scrutiny, and cost allocation to facilitate grid readiness for future capacity needs and to support the EU’s energy and climate goals. It follows commitments under the 2023 EU Action Plan for Grids and Action Plan for Affordable Energy, and complements reforms made under the 2024 Electricity Market Design. The guidance draws on stakeholder consultations, expert input from ACER and CEER, and prior discussions at the Copenhagen Infrastructure Forum. A public consultation on the forthcoming European Grids Package, due by the end of 2025, remains open until 5 August 2025.

The European Commission has issued guidance clarifying the requirement under Article 17(15) of Directive (EU) 2024/1275 (the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)), to discontinue financial incentives for installing new stand-alone fossil fuel boilers from 1 January 2025. The document clarifies the notions of ‘stand-alone boiler powered by fossil fuels’, ‘hybrid heating system’, ‘installation’ and ‘financial incentives’. It also specifies that no grants, preferential loans, or tax incentives can be provided for purchasing, assembling, or putting into operation new stand-alone boilers powered by natural gas, oil, or coal, regardless of whether it is part of a renovation project. Public bodies at all levels are also prohibited from providing economic support or resources for installing such boilers. However, certain incentives can continue, such as those for hybrid heating systems combining a boiler with a heat generator using renewable energy if the renewable share is significant, and the incentive is proportionate to the renewable share. Incentives already approved under EU funds, financing transition to renewable gases in boilers, supporting maintenance or decommissioning of fossil fuel boilers, or income support for heating with fossil fuels can also be maintained. Similarly, incentives already granted and communicated to individual beneficiaries can still be disbursed.