On 30 April 2026, the European Commission published draft revised merger guidelines, representing a comprehensive update to the EU merger control framework.
The draft reflects structural shifts over the past two decades, including the rise of digital markets, geopolitical pressure on supply chains, and a greater emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and resilience. It recognises that consolidation can positively contribute to European competitiveness and investment capacity, and that mergers facilitating cross-border integration, global expansion, supply chain security, critical infrastructure and defense readiness may be viewed favorably, provided competition within the internal market is preserved. The Commission draws a clear line, however, between pro-competitive scale and consolidation that primarily entrenches domestic market power, a distinction subject to case-by-case assessment.