Ribera’s comments come as Brussels prepares for a formal review of the DMA to determine what is working and where the law may need to be reformed. The regulation aims to prevent “gatekeeper” firms, including Apple, Alphabet and Meta, from using their dominant positions to stifle competition from smaller players.
The EU’s top antitrust official pushed back against criticism that enforcement has been too slow, arguing that the “rule of law” requires a methodical approach based on evidence and due process.
The Commission has faced criticism for the speed of its investigation into Google’s search page setup from civil society organizations and third-party competitors. In a letter last month, 18 organizations said the Commission’s “credibility is on the line,” lamenting that an investigation which was supposed to be done in one year, had since dragged out into its third year.
“The process takes time because we want to take positions based on evidence and after having allowed anyone under this procedure … to defend their case,” Ribera said. She noted that while several infringement procedures are currently active, the goal remains a “learning process” where regulators and companies engage in a “regulatory dialogue” to achieve compliance.
Ribera recently returned from a diplomatic mission to Washington and Silicon Valley where she met with U.S. officials and tech executives. She said there is a surprising degree of alignment between European and American priorities, despite the differing political climates.
In particular, Ribera highlighted a “consistent” dialogue with the U.S. Department of Justice under the current Trump administration. In February, the Trump administration ousted the Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, the DoJ’s lead on antitrust enforcement.
Ribera said she has already met with the new acting head of the section and the two have a good relationship.
“This doesn’t mean someone telling the other what to do,” Ribera said. “We are sovereign in taking our decisions. But this means that it is important to keep the dialogue open.”
