Brussels Can Now Also Block Acquisitions in Adjacent Markets
On 2026-09-11, the European court confirmed that Booking is not allowed to acquire travel agency Etraveli. Competition law expert Rein Wesseling interprets this decision as more than just a dispute over airline tickets and hotel rooms. He suggests it signals that Brussels now has the authority to block mergers and acquisitions not only within the same market, but also in adjacent markets, potentially broadening the scope of EU competition enforcement. The ruling may have significant implications for future deals.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's