Nicosia: The European Commission has officially approved the creation of a joint venture by AI Infrastructure Development, S.L. ('ACS AIID'), Telef³nica S.A., Banco Santander, S.A., and Entidad Pºblica Empresarial Sociedad Espa±ola para la Transformaci³n Tecnol³gica, E.P.E. ('SETT'), all based in Spain. This decision falls under the EU Merger Regulation and aims to enhance third-party data centre colocation services in Spain, aligning with the EU's strategy to fortify its tech sovereignty through the AI Gigafactories Initiative.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Commission's examination of the transaction determined it would not pose any competition concerns due to the limited market positions of the involved companies. The review was conducted under the simplified merger review procedure, ensuring a streamlined assessment process. The Commission has made additional information available on its competition website, under the public case register with the case number M.12498.
In a related development, Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner is set to visit Croatia, engaging in discussions on migration and security, specifically focusing on the Entry-Exit System (EES) implemented in Croatia. This system, operational since October 2025, has successfully logged over 160 million entries and exits of non-EU nationals across 29 European countries. The EES has played a crucial role in enhancing the security of the Schengen Area, with more than 50,000 entries refused to date, including over 1,500 individuals considered serious security risks.
During his visit, Commissioner Brunner will receive a demonstration of the system's operations at Split's airport and participate in a press conference alongside Davor Bo‚¬¦¾inovic, Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. The conference will discuss Croatia's successful implementation of the EES, focusing on effective practices and lessons learned. The following day, a bilateral meeting between Commissioner Brunner and Minister Bo‚¬¦¾inovic will further explore strategies on internal security and migration, highlighting effective border management while ensuring security and facilitating legitimate travel. The press conference will commence at 14:00 CEST and will be broadcast on EBS+.