Brussels, 8 May 2025 — The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on a sweeping review of its EU Merger Guidelines, aiming to modernise the regulatory framework that governs how corporate mergers are assessed for their impact on competition.
The initiative, described as both “comprehensive and ambitious,” comes amid profound shifts in the economic and geopolitical landscape, including digitalisation, decarbonisation, and rising concerns around defence, security, and supply chain resilience.
“This is a crucial moment for Europe,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. “Only by changing can we ensure that our merger control policy continues to serve people, stimulate innovation and strengthen Europe’s resilience and leadership.”
Modern Challenges, Updated Rules
The consultation will address how competition policy should account for factors such as innovation, efficiency, investment intensity, sustainability, and strategic dependencies. It also aims to incorporate broader economic trends, including digital transformation and evolving defence priorities.
In support of this process, the Commission has published seven focus papers that explore the economic and legal dimensions of merger control in relation to innovation, labour, market power, competitiveness, and environmental goals. These will serve as discussion platforms for deeper stakeholder engagement, including workshops and targeted events.
Call for Feedback Open Until September
The public can respond to two questionnaires — a general one and a more detailed technical version — both of which are open until 3 September 2025. Responses are invited from all stakeholders, including citizens, companies, industry associations, and academics.
The review encompasses both the 2004 Horizontal Merger Guidelines and the 2008 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines, which focus respectively on mergers between direct competitors and those along the supply chain. Since their adoption, the economic landscape has shifted dramatically, prompting the need for a fresh, durable, and evidence-based framework.
Next Steps in the Review Process
In parallel with the consultation, the Commission is also conducting an economic study on the dynamic effects of mergers, with proposals due by 20 May 2025. Feedback gathered will inform the revision of the Merger Guidelines, with a summary of public responses to be published on the Commission’s competition website.
The reform is part of a broader strategic agenda outlined in Executive Vice-President Ribera’s mission letter and the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass, which highlights the need for stronger innovation, investment, and resilience in EU policy.
At its core, the EU’s merger control regime seeks to foster a dynamic and competitive internal market, encouraging innovation and preventing harmful concentrations of market power. While most mergers — around 95% in the past decade — are approved without conditions, the revised guidelines aim to sharpen the tools used when intervention is necessary.
For more information and to participate in the consultation, interested parties can visit the Commission’s “Have Your Say” portal or the Competition Commission’s dedicated merger review webpage.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/bg/ip_25_1141
