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ARTICLE · 29 JUNE 2026

Brussels Regulatory Brief: April/May 2026

K&L Gates
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On 30 April 2026, the European Commission (Commission) published the draft of the new Merger Guidelines (Draft Guidelines) for public consultation...

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Francesco Carloni
Francesco Carloni
Nikolaos Peristerakis
Nikolaos Peristerakis
Giovanni Campi
Giovanni Campi
Mélanie Bruneau
Mélanie Bruneau
Michael Hofmann Dr.
Michael Hofmann Dr.
Sara Rayon Gonzalez
Sara Rayon Gonzalez
Edoardo Crosetto
Edoardo Crosetto
Martina Pesci
Martina Pesci

ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION 

European Commission Opens Consultation on the Draft of the New Merger Guidelines

On 30 April 2026, the European Commission (Commission) published the draft of the new Merger Guidelines (Draft Guidelines) for public consultation, replacing the 2004 Horizontal and 2008 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines with a single consolidated framework. The Draft Guidelines codify two decades of decisional practice and introduce several key innovations, including a positive assessment of scale-enhancing mergers, a new concept of theory of benefit, and an innovation shield for acquisitions of small innovative companies. Interested parties may submit comments until 26 June 2026.

The Commission Carries Out Unannounced Antitrust Inspections in the Chocolate Confectionery Sector

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