Brussels Edition: Searching for lessons on Google

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union

In what could be the biggest antitrust case of the century, U.S. authorities are readying a legal assault aimed at breaking Google’s search dominance. The EU has already been there and done that. The result? Two years after a record fine and an order to give Europeans more choice, Google still rules mobile search in Europe. Global tech monopolies are one of the biggest challenges for market economies today. Aoife White and Natalia Drozdiak take a look at the lessons regulators can draw from the EU’s botched effort to rein in the biggest of them all. - Nikos Chrysoloras

What’s Happening
Back in Britain |
For the first time since Brexit negotiations started almost exactly three years ago, talks are due to take place in the U.K. rather than Brussels. This week, the two sides aim to flesh out the outlines of a deal on their future relationship as they push each other to compromise.

Macron 2.0 | France’s government, under new Prime Minister Jean Castex, will be announced today. One thing is clear already though: Emmanuel Macron’s solution to turning around his flagging presidency is more Macron.

Croatian Surprise | Croatia’s ruling party scored a surprising victory in elections Sunday, defying polls that suggested Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic might struggle amid rising Covid-19 infections. But HDZ didn’t win a majority, meaning potentially lengthy coalition talks.

Tools for Life | Exceptional ECB measures introduced in the wake of the global financial meltdown and the euro-area sovereign debt crisis — such as negative interest rates, quantitative easing and long-term bank loans — are here to stay. Here's why the coronavirus pandemic has permanently changed European economic policy, locking in a more extensive set of monetary tools.

In Case You Missed It
Disinflation Ahead | ECB President Christine Lagarde said the euro zone faces about two years of downward pressure on prices, but could see a turnaround after that because the coronavirus crisis will accelerate the transformation of the economy. She warned that pandemics typically increase inequality, with economic and social consequences that the central bank will have to take into account.

Breakup Boost | Support for Scottish independence has been buoyed by the perception that the semi-autonomous administration in Edinburgh handled the coronavirus outbreak more competently than the U.K. government in Westminster. Will the pandemic split the U.K?

Soccer Stimulus | Italian football has fallen a long way from its heyday. Now, the chance to bring back one of Europe’s top leagues to its former glory has attracted interest from a clutch of private equity firms who are betting on getting a bargain. As the pandemic strains the league further, here's a look at how Italy’s old stadiums are in need of a bailout. 

Leaving London | The giants of Wall Street and European banking are giving up their stronghold in London. The moves were planned before the coronavirus hit. Now, with thousands of job cuts likely to follow what’s forecast to be the worst recession in three centuries, the tenants of the glass and steel towers that dominate the City of London and Canary Wharf may face an even bigger retreat.

Chart of the Day

Bikes are increasingly muscling aside cars on Europe’s city streets, as the coronavirus accelerates a shift toward pedal power. Many of the plans come at the expense of cars, Richard Weiss reports.

Today’s Agenda
All times CET.

  • 9 a.m. EU Parliament hearing with Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan
  • 9:05 a.m. EU justice ministers discuss rule of law, disinformation and hate speech in informal online meeting
  • 11 a.m. Eurostat releases May retail trade reading and first-quarter balance of payments data 
  • 3:15 p.m. EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, Poland Climate Minister Michał Kurtyka and Michael Bloomberg speak at the BloombergNEF virtual event “Investing in the transition of Europe’s coal regions”
  • 7:30 p.m. European Council President Charles Michel meets with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
  • German Health Minister Jens Spahn will give a policy statement before the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on priorities during Germany’s presidency
  • European Anti-Fraud Office Director-General Ville Itälä and Chief European Public Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi speak at a public hearing on fighting fraud and corruption at the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee