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Germany’s neighbours are warming to relaxing EU state subsidy rules for the long term, as hope to gain from Berlin’s spending. “We are not going to complain now that the German locomotive is kicking off again” said one EU diplomat. With alicemhancock ft.com/content/fcb798…

The European Commission is set to investigate Universal Music Group’s planned $775mn acquisition of independent music services company Downtown Music, amid claims the deal will give too much power to the industry’s largest player. With Anna Nicolaou on.ft.com/42Mk4v6

Viktor Orbán’s government is being accused of handing more than €1bn in unlawful subsidies to pro-government media, adding to concerns that state support is being used to bolster the Hungarian leader’s grip on power. on.ft.com/3GHFnGL

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, said the company would take the US government to court if necessary to protect European customers’ access to its services amid worries over Donald Trump. More in our interview for the FT with Tim Bradshaw ft.com/content/66708f…

China opens “read out gap” with EU by giving its version of world what was agreed in talks to near silence from EU countries and Brussels finds think tank ⁦MERICS⁩ ⁦Barbara Moens⁩ ⁦Henry Foy⁩ via Financial Times on.ft.com/43pd2Op

Transatlantic antitrust ties fray as US and EU regulators squabble, with layers in the US and Europe keeping a close eye on potential forks in antitrust policy. With Stefania Palma Suzi Ring James Fontanella-Khan ft.com/content/43491c…

The EU will introduce "Buy European" preferences in future legislation such as public procurement rules, industry chief Stéphane Séjourné tells Barbara Moens and I ft.com/content/cd3b82…

Vanavond in #deafspraak: Marc Bossuyt over het Europees migratiebeleid n.a.v. de val van de Nederlandse regering, Barbara Moens en Bart Kerremans over de tarieven van Donald J. Trump en Griet Op de Beeck gaat VPRO Zomergasten presenteren. Om 20u35 op VRT CANVAS

☀️EU competition officials are blocking state aid going towards the operating costs of cleantech companies arguing that its an unsustainable way to subsidise. Interesting argument that highlights EU challenges of competing with China/US. ft.com/content/36c486…

Brussels is set to step up its investigation into Hungary’s retail tax today, which has been criticised as unfair by foreign supermarket chains. With Paola Tamma in Europe Express on.ft.com/3TpV4FF

Google dealt blow at EU’s top court over record €4.12bn competition fine ft.com/content/cd63dd…

Apple is set to offer concessions to avoid new fines, people involved in the negotiations said, as the company is in last-minute talks with Brussels regulators ahead of a Thursday deadline. ft.com/content/b5d518…

On Thursday, the EU's 27 leaders will discuss deepening the bloc's single market after a series of global crises have sharpened resolve. We took a deep dive into the EU's plan to finally make its single market work. Big Read with alicemhancock ft.com/content/ae2aeb…

European governments should buy equity in clean tech companies instead of handing out subsidies, the EU’s competition chief Teresa Ribera said ahead of today's new state aid framework. Interview here with alicemhancock ft.com/content/f957bd…

EU leaders shift from defence to trade as Trump looms over Brussels summit on.ft.com/4l2qcaF

The EU will set out plans on Wednesday to pool funding and expertise in quantum to build a competitive European ecosystem. Interview with the EU's tech chief Henna Virkkunen on why this is important for the EU's tech sovereignty. ft.com/content/57b438…

The chief executives of large European companies including Airbus and BNP Paribas have urged Brussels to halt its landmark artificial intelligence act ahead of key provisions kicking into force in August. With Tim Bradshaw ft.com/content/a82575…

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. ft.com/content/742deb…

Can Europe break free of American tech supremacy? on.ft.com/4kZkjKE

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