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Apple Prepares New App Store Concessions to Satisfy EU Watchdogs

By  |  June 25, 2025

Apple is preparing to introduce new changes to its App Store operations in an effort to appease European Union regulators and avert further punitive action, according to Bloomberg. The move comes after the European Commission hit the tech giant with a €500 million ($580 million) fine in April for allegedly violating the bloc’s stringent Digital Markets Act (DMA).

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    The proposed adjustments, which are expected to be submitted by June 26, aim to make it easier for developers to steer users away from Apple’s ecosystem for app purchases, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. These measures follow tense negotiations between Apple and EU officials, who have made it clear that additional sanctions could follow if the company fails to bring its practices in line with DMA requirements.

    Apple’s upcoming proposal is seen as a strategic response to avoid an official charge sheet, which EU regulators were reportedly preparing in case of non-compliance by Thursday’s deadline. Both the European Commission and Apple have declined to comment on the pending submission.

    Related: Apple Faces New EU Ultimatum Over Digital Markets Act Violations

    The Cupertino-based company has already signaled its intention to challenge the €500 million fine in court, lodging an appeal with the European Union’s judiciary in Luxembourg. At the time of the penalty, Apple sharply criticized EU regulators, claiming the decision unfairly targeted the company and undermined its proprietary technologies.

    The DMA, which outlines specific obligations for the largest digital platforms, has been a catalyst for recent enforcement actions. Alongside Apple, Meta Platforms Inc. was fined €200 million in April for its controversial “pay or consent” model on Facebook and Instagram. These latest fines underscore the EU’s aggressive approach to curbing perceived monopolistic behavior in the tech industry.

    Per Bloomberg, the EU’s crackdown on big tech is part of a broader strategy that has seen Alphabet Inc.’s Google fined over $8 billion across multiple cases, Apple ordered to repay €13 billion in taxes to Ireland, and enforcement actions taken against Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

    Source: Bloomberg