Analysis
Vestager’s remark aligns with the **European Commission’s legal framework** under **Article 102 TFEU**, which prohibits the *abuse* of dominant market positions, not dominance itself. Her tenure as Commissioner (2014–2019) saw high-profile cases (e.g., **Google Shopping, Android**) where the EU penalized *specific anti-competitive practices*—like self-preferencing or restrictive contracts—not Google’s scale. The statement also mirrors her **repeated public messaging** (e.g., 2015–2017 speeches) distinguishing between lawful market leadership and illegal abuse. No credible evidence suggests she targeted companies solely for being 'big' or 'successful.'
Background
The EU’s antitrust enforcement focuses on **behavioral remedies** (e.g., fines, operational changes) rather than breaking up firms, unlike some U.S. approaches. Vestager’s Google cases resulted in **€8.25 billion in fines** (2017–2019) for abuses like **leveraging dominance in search to stifle competition**, upheld by the **EU General Court in 2021**. Her statement reflects the **‘effects-based’ approach** central to EU competition law, where harm to consumers/innovation triggers action.
Verdict summary
Margrethe Vestager’s 2016 statement accurately reflects the EU’s antitrust enforcement stance, which targets illegal conduct—not size or success—consistent with documented EU policy and her public record.