The COVID-19 pandemic has turned global markets into a bargain bin 🛒, with European airlines, banks, and even football clubs now at risk of foreign buyouts. EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager is urging member states to play defense by buying shares in vulnerable companies—specifically to counter Chinese acquisitions.
💡 \"Pandemic bargain hunting isn’t just for travel deals,\" Vestager told the Financial Times. She warned that Europe must act fast to protect strategic industries, calling it a \"main priority\" as the EU drafts proposals to let governments inject capital into struggling firms.
Brussels also plans to relax state aid rules, allowing countries to buy shares at market rates while ensuring taxpayers aren’t shortchanged. Vestager stressed that any state-backed investments would come with strict governance rules to prevent market distortions.
⚖️ The move highlights growing anxiety over foreign influence in Europe’s post-pandemic economy. While the EU isn’t naming China directly, the subtext is clear: protect local jewels before they’re snapped up. 💼
