Finance
EU antitrust chief ribera open to state aid for crisis-hit heavy energy users
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said on March 12 that member states still have state aid tools to help energy‑intensive companies manage soaring electricity costs caused by the Iran war; the Commission stands ready to deploy support and draw from past crises.
EU Open to State Aid for Energy-Intensive Companies Amid Price Surge
EU Response to Energy Price Surge and State Aid Measures
State Aid Options for Energy-Intensive Companies
BERLIN, March 12 (Reuters) - European Union governments may be allowed to grant state aid to energy intensive companies hit by the sharp jump in electricity prices following the surge in oil and gas prices due to the Iran war, Europe's competition chief Teresa Ribera on Thursday said.
"For the moment, we have untapped state aid possibilities that member states can still use to give relief to electricity prices of energy-intensive users," Ribera told a conference organised by the German antitrust authority Bundeskartellamt.
Commission Support and Long-Term Plans
She said the European Commission was also ready to step in with support measures and longer-term plans to help businesses counter the impact of the war, based on previous measures to tackle the effects of the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
These programmes allowed governments to pump in billions of euros to companies.
Learning from Previous Crises
"We are not there yet but in case it happens, we need to draw from the experience of previous crisis," Ribera said.
EU Antitrust Focus: Meta Platforms and AI Chatbots
Ribera, who earlier this month threatened to temporarily block Meta Platforms from excluding rival AI chatbots on its messaging service WhatsApp, said she was now assessing the U.S. tech company's change of mind.
"Last week, Meta then announced that it would reverse its decision to exclude third party AI chatbots from WhatsApp, but it will start charging a fee. We are now carefully assessing if this policy change has an impact on the need for the Commission to act urgent," she said.
Concerns Over Meta's Policy Change
Rivals said the fees are too convoluted and too high and have urged the EU antitrust enforcer to issue an interim measure against Meta.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, Editing by Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •EU governments can still use existing state aid tools to ease electricity costs for heavy energy users hit by the Iran‑war‑fuelled energy spike
- •The European Commission, led by Ribera, is prepared to roll out support measures and longer‑term plans, taking cues from COVID and Ukraine crisis experience
- •This renews earlier efforts: the Commission had expanded aid frameworks like CISAF in late 2025 to support decarbonisation and energy‑intensive sectors
Frequently Asked Questions about EU antitrust chief Ribera open to state aid for crisis-hit heavy energy users
1Why is the EU considering state aid for energy companies?
The EU is considering state aid for energy-intensive companies affected by sharp rises in electricity prices due to the surge in oil and gas prices linked to the Iran war.
2What measures has the EU used previously to support businesses in crises?
The EU has previously implemented programs during the COVID pandemic and Ukraine war, allowing governments to provide billions in aid to companies.
3What is Teresa Ribera's role regarding antitrust and competition policy?
Teresa Ribera is the EU's competition chief and oversees antitrust policy, including addressing relief measures for companies and investigating tech company practices.
4What is the EU's response to Meta's policy on WhatsApp AI chatbots?
The EU is assessing Meta's decision to reverse the exclusion of third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp, focusing on the impact of new fees and potential action.
