The period from 2019 to today has been marked by epoch-making events that have profoundly changed the economy and the functioning of markets, and posed unprecedented challenges to antitrust authorities, especially in Europe.
In particular, during my Presidency, three shocks have altered the underlying framework and highlighted the issue of competitiveness and the relationship between economy and security.
Firstly, the pandemic highlighted Europe’s dependence on external supplies in essential sectors and raised the issue of strategic autonomy.
Secondly, the war in Ukraine and, more recently, the conflict erupted in the Persian Gulf, have exposed the energy vulnerability of the old continent, confirming that this is not only an economic issue but also one of security and resilience for Europe.
Thirdly, the introduction of tariff barriers, a tool of unhealthy competition between states, has transformed trade and technology into levers of geopolitical power.
In this context, policies aimed at increasing competitiveness are no longer considered “neutral” with respect to security.
The European Union itself is committed to implementing a strategy that integrates the two dimensions, including, among other things, the idea of “Buy European” in strategic sectors, precisely to reduce external dependencies and strengthen internal competitiveness.
Faced with a new paradigm in which competitiveness and economic security have become inseparable terms, what role can competition play?
Competition is one of the “infrastructures” underpinning economic security and competitiveness, since, as widely recognized, it fosters innovation and produces efficiency.
In doing so, it also allows for diversification of operators and a plurality of supply sources, elements that ultimately increase the resilience of the economic system, making it less vulnerable to external shocks.
If competition is the main driver of a “healthy competitiveness” of the European economy, it has nevertheless been suggested that, in an unstable and conflictual geopolitical context, it may occasionally cause tensions with the resilience of value chains and supply security.
This explains the search for a new balance by European institutions and member states which, while preserving the essential role of competition in guaranteeing consumer choice and greater social justice, keep it up to date by opening it to dialogue with the needs of economic security, strategic autonomy and sustainability.
In this difficult search, one point should remain firm.
The greater competitiveness of the European economy cannot come from a relaxation of antitrust constraints, especially regarding concentrations, as this would lead to a weakening of overall economic growth and an increase in prices for citizens.
Moreover, the very activity of the Italian Authority, which in the last seven years has authorized concentration operations submitted to its scrutiny, albeit in some cases subject to compliance with conditions, demonstrates that the current regulatory framework, if interpreted with balance, does not hinder the strengthening of companies but prevents the acquisition of market power likely to weaken competitive dynamics.
To promote the dimensional growth of companies, on the contrary, markets must be integrated, the administrative burden framework simplified, and only those constraints strictly necessary for the protection of significant general interests, not otherwise protectable, maintained.
This does not prevent competition rules from continuing to evolve to adapt to the changed context.
Precisely for this purpose, an important renewal program is underway at the European level, involving the assessment of concentration operations, the treatment of exclusionary abuses, and the adjustment of the institutional framework.
Ultimately, competition is one of the founding pillars of the European Union and must remain an integral part of its development and economic security strategy.
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- The Authority’s interventions in 2025
Turning now to the activity carried out during 2025, the Authority concluded 21 investigative proceedings in the field of competition. In cases where an infringement was found, fines totaling one billion four hundred million euros were imposed.
Furthermore, two fact-finding investigations and 78 reporting and advisory interventions were carried out, of which 31 pursuant to article 21-bis of the establishing law.
Continuing the approach followed in recent years, the Authority’s action developed in line with market transformations, production chains, and consumer purchasing behaviors, focusing on intervention areas consistent both with international enforcement priorities and with the specificities of the Italian economy.
Three significant investigations were aimed at safeguarding the proper functioning of digital markets.
Firstly, the Authority imposed a fine of about 100 million euros on Apple for hindering the acquisition of the necessary consent for user profiling by app developers, by imposing conditions that were not objective, transparent, or proportionate to the need to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
Secondly, the Authority made Meta’s commitments mandatory in the proceeding on the renewal of the contract with SIAE, ensuring greater negotiation transparency and information sharing, to guarantee the availability of Italian musical works on Instagram and Facebook platforms.
Thirdly, the Authority adopted precautionary measures aimed at restoring access to WhatsApp by companies competing with Meta in artificial intelligence chatbot services. It was considered that limiting access to the platform could quickly compromise the competitive capacity of such operators, especially new entrants. The same conduct is now subject to intervention by the European Commission regarding other EU countries.
The importance of the proper functioning of platforms for access to goods and services concerns not only large digital ecosystems but also more traditional sectors. For example, the investigation into school publishing highlighted that, in a highly concentrated market, the distribution of digital textbooks through proprietary systems and restrictive licenses limits interoperability and transferability, increasing costs for families.
Even in an increasingly dematerialized economy, physical infrastructures – transport, telecommunications, and energy – continue to play a strategic role, both to support competitiveness and to promote policy objectives such as environmental sustainability and digital inclusion.
In the high-speed passenger transport market, the Authority made mandatory the commitments presented by the Ferrovie dello Stato group to guarantee access to the national railway infrastructure to a new operator.
In the telecommunications sector, the Authority closed the investigation on the agreement signed between FiberCop and TIM following the network spin-off with commitments, to promote competition in retail and wholesale markets and preserve the necessary incentives for future investments in fiber networks.
Regarding energy networks, three concentration operations in the gas sector were approved with conditions; at the same time, the Authority concluded a dominant position abuse proceeding and initiated another concerning electric vehicle charging services.
Two further decisions highlight the strong relationship between competition protection and environmental protection.
Firstly, the investigation for abuse of dominant position concerning bio-compostable shoppers ended with the imposition of a fine of about 32 million euros.
Secondly, the Authority found collusive coordination, during 2020-2023, among the main oil companies on the value of the “bio component” of fuel prices for motor vehicles, imposing fines exceeding 936 million euros. The companies involved, through information exchanges and public announcements, achieved substantial alignment in timing and amount of applied increases.
Another restrictive agreement, sanctioned with over 70 million euros, concerned the national market for cast iron jets, involving numerous foundries and the trade association. The infringement consisted of systematic exchange of sensitive information, as well as the definition and use of sector indicators to coordinate price changes and support margins.
Two other investigations, concluded with acceptance of commitments, concerned the professions sector and maritime transport.
Also in the transport sector, the Authority imposed a fine exceeding 250 million euros on Ryanair for abuse of dominant position, for having reduced the capacity of online and physical travel agencies to offer packages and combinations including flights of other carriers and tourism and insurance services.
In 2025, intense advocacy and monitoring activities continued in local public services of economic relevance.
Interventions concerned various sectors – including marinas, waste, integrated water service, and local public transport – with findings on inadequately justified in house awards, unlawful extensions, and undue delays in tenders.
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Regarding consumer protection, 70 investigations were concluded, resulting in fines totaling 70 million euros.
In another 31 cases, the Authority obtained from professionals the removal of the contested illegal aspects using the tool of moral suasion.
I will limit myself to providing only some examples of the interventions carried out.
One area concerned the phenomenon of influencer marketing, with actions aimed at combating the spread of covert advertising content, the use of inauthentic interactions (fake followers), and the misleading promotion of “easy earnings”.
To combat aggressive tele-selling, the Authority concluded 4 investigations against call centers that, hiding their identity and conveying untruthful information, contacted consumers inducing them to enter into contracts for energy and telecommunications services.
Some interventions concerned environmental and social claims.
In the luxury clothing sector, the Authority concluded two investigations to verify the accuracy of ethical and social responsibility claims potentially inconsistent with the actual working conditions at suppliers and sub-suppliers.
In the so-called “disposable” clothing sector (“fast and super-fast fashion”), the Authority fined Shein for using a misleading communication strategy about the characteristics and environmental impact of its products.
Four investigations were concluded against some of the main electric car manufacturers regarding the accuracy and completeness of information provided about driving range, battery capacity loss, and limitations of the related conventional warranty.
Two particularly significant interventions concerned the city of Rome.
A fine of about 20 million euros was imposed on CoopCulture and six online platforms for conduct that made it virtually impossible for consumers to purchase Colosseum tickets at the official price, which were instead massively hoarded through automated systems and resold at much higher prices along with additional services.
The Authority also concluded a proceeding against Atac for systematically failing to meet the quality and quantity standards of public transport service in Rome. The intervention led the company to recognize over 3 million euros in refunds to Metrebus subscribers and to implement an innovative compensation system, unique in the local public transport landscape, which provides for compensation in case of delays exceeding 15 minutes.
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As is known, the Authority also manages the attribution of the legality rating and has recently adopted a new Regulation reflecting the evolution of application practices and jurisprudential orientations that have emerged over the years.
Three principles inspired these transformations: simplification for businesses, transparency, and cooperation among public institutions.
Collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza and the Carabinieri, with whom the memorandum of understanding has been renewed, is fundamental.
The legality rating scheme is increasingly appreciated by companies, so much so that in 2025, 9,300 procedures were concluded, more than
