European digital rule-book is not up for negotiation, says EU’s Ribera

Brussels, Nov. 25, 2025 — European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera has firmly rejected calls to weaken or renegotiate the EU’s core digital regulations. Her comments respond directly to proposals from U.S. officials who suggested the bloc should relax its tech rules in return for favorable trade concessions.

Ribera emphasized that Europe’s digital rule-book was designed to preserve fair markets and protect consumer rights, and that trading away these standards would undermine the EU’s long-standing regulatory values. She made it clear that regulatory sovereignty is not up for barter — the EU will not dilute its digital laws to gain short-term economic or political leverage.

Her stance underlines the bloc’s commitment to enforcing regulations like the Digital Markets Act and other landmark tech laws, even amid mounting global trade pressures. Ribera’s remarks suggest the EU sees these digital rules as foundational, not negotiable, in its broader economic and trade strategy.