EU fast-tracks antitrust review of SpaceX rival satellite venture

The European Union is accelerating antitrust review procedures for a satellite joint venture by Leonardo SpA, Airbus SE, and Thales SA, positioning it as a European rival to SpaceX, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Pre-notification discussions over the past year have aimed to identify and resolve potential competition concerns before a formal filing, which EU officials expect within weeks. The project, called "Project Bromo," has drawn praise from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, though competition chief Teresa Ribera warned it won't receive automatic approval. The venture seeks to reduce Europe's reliance on US satellite providers like Elon Musk's SpaceX, but faces pushback from unions and suppliers over jobs and competition issues. It represents a test case for the EU's revised merger review approach favoring regional champions against US and Chinese competitors.