Minor market-share rise can be harmful, EU’s Tarantino says of Booking ruling
By Lewis Crofts ( September 16, 2026, 15:14 GMT | Insight) -- A merger that leads to only a small increase in a dominant company’s market share may still cause “dynamic harm,” the European Commission’s chief competition economist said, pointing to a ruling that upheld a block on Booking’s Etraveli buyout. Emanuele Tarantino said the EU court left open questions over assessing mergers that entrench market power, but it did stress a “holistic approach” to how corporate power links across markets. A merger that leads to only a small increase in a dominant company’s market share may still cause “dynamic harm,” the European Commission’s chief competition economist said, pointing to a Sept. 9 ruling that upheld a block on Booking’s acquisition of Etraveli....
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