‘Abuse of power’: Von der Leyen rapped after backing space mega deal
The European Parliament’s leading competition lawmaker accuses the Commission chief of pre-empting merger review.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced criticism for publicly supporting a €6.5 billion joint venture involving the bloc's top satellite players, amid concerns it could be an "abuse of power". The proposed merger, dubbed Project Bromo, aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink satellite-internet service. Von der Leyen's remarks at a Paris space summit drew backlash from competition watchdog Teresa Ribera and liberal MEP Stephanie Yon-Courtin, who called the endorsement an "abuse of power" and a breach of duty.
The EU's competition department has yet to assess the project formally. Von der Leyen's intervention, while uncommon, reflects the growing push to bolster European industry, even if it strains the traditional boundaries of EU antitrust oversight.
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