Key Points
- Nominated as EU antitrust chief, Teresa Ribera, Spain’s current Minister for Ecological Transition, must secure parliamentary approval.
- She will enforce rules against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google. Ribera faces challenges in managing Big Tech’s dominance in artificial intelligence.
- Expected to continue Vestager’s crackdown on non-EU state-backed companies.
- As Executive Vice President, Ribera will also oversee Europe’s energy transition to meet climate goals.
Teresa Ribera, Spain’s current Minister for Ecological Transition, has been nominated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the next EU antitrust chief. If confirmed, Ribera will face significant challenges as she squares off against powerful industries, including Big Tech, banks, and airlines, while managing calls for looser regulations to help create European industrial champions. Before taking up her post, she must secure European Parliament approval.
Ribera, age 55, is recognized for her strong stance on climate change and her leadership in environmental policy since 2018. As competition commissioner, she will have the authority to approve or block multi-billion-euro mergers and fine companies for anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing or stifling smaller rivals.
One of Ribera’s primary tasks will be enforcing the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark set of rules designed to curb the influence of tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. These companies have already faced scrutiny from outgoing antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager for failing to comply fully with EU regulations, and Ribera will need to ensure they play by the rules while providing consumers with more choices.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly popular, Ribera will also need to address concerns about Big Tech leveraging their existing market dominance to stifle competition. Additionally, she may intensify efforts to crack down on non-EU state subsidies, preventing foreign companies from gaining unfair advantages in EU markets.
Recent rulings by Europe’s highest court, such as the Commission’s 13-billion-euro tax order to Apple and a 2.42-billion-euro antitrust fine against Google, could strengthen Ribera’s hand in enforcing strict antitrust measures. Despite calls from figures like Mario Draghi to relax regulations to boost EU industrial champions, Ribera is expected to maintain a tough stance on competition rules.
In addition to her antitrust duties, Ribera has been named Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Energy Transition, responsible for ensuring Europe meets its green energy targets.
