January 14, 2024 Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s antitrust chief, has urged Apple to accept third-party app stores. This directive was issued during high-level discussions with US Big Tech leaders in San Francisco and Palo Alto. Vestager’s meeting with Tim Cook at Apple Park on January 11, 2024, centered around the need for more competition and consumer choice in the digital marketplace.

Although the precise contents of their discussion were not released, Vestager’s Twitter/X post hinted at the EU’s determination to challenge Apple’s long-held control over its App Store. This push for an open digital marketplace could lead to significant changes in how Apple operates in the EU, possibly transforming its App Store policies and practices.

Sources include: Apple Insider