Lunch discussion: EU Merger Guidelines under revision – an opportunity for workers?

The European Commission’s Competitiveness Agenda identifies a new approach to competition policy as an important lever for the competitiveness of European companies. Based on the Draghi report, the Competitiveness Compass argues that in the global race to develop deep technologies and breakthrough innovations, competition policy must keep pace. It therefore concludes that a new approach to competition policy is required, one where European companies are able to scale up to compete globally. Consequently, the Commission announced to review the EU Merger Guidelines on 8 May. Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera will have a key role in shaping the new guidelines and wants to ensure that the revision serves people, drives innovation, and strengthens Europe’s resilience and leadership.

Against this backdrop, the EU Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung cordially invites you to a lunch discussion on the revision of the EU Merger Guidelines on 17 July. Together with lawmakers and experts in competition law, we want to strategise on:

• The opportunity for workers, which lays in the revision of the EU Merger Guidelines;
• The best level in EU competition law to anchor effects on labour markets;
• The window of opportunity in which the Commission has for the first time sanctioned an agreement between two companies not to poach each other’s employees (Delivery Hero and Glovo, June 2025);
• Best practice from competition authorities when it comes to restrictive labour market agreements and practices;
• Political strategies for progressives

The public consultation on the revision of the guidelines is currently ongoing. As a novelty, the in-depth consultation contains a section on labour market and workers, asking whether the revised guidelines should provide guidance assessing the impact of mergers on labour markets. This is a promising development for progressives, as mergers can significantly impede competition in labour markets and in turn can have direct effects on workers.

In a labour-market monopsony, where a single or dominant employer controls the hiring of a group of potential employees, an employer has the power to set wages and is able to degrade working conditions without losing its workforce. Furthermore, a merger or acquisition can generate significant changes to employment conditions. Additionally, decisions taken by competition authorities impact workers, for example when the ownership structure changes.

The event is on-site only and will be held in English. Interpretation is not proivided. Please register here.

If you have any questions please contact Marie.Hasdenteufel(at)fes.de