A new report claims that Apple is in last-minute negotiations with the European Union over App Store changes, in an attempt to avoid impending further fines.
An EU flag with the App Store logo
The further fines in question relate to how Apple was initially fined $570 for alleged non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and given 60 days to correct this. That time limit expires on June 26, after which the EU would be able to impose increasingly large fines until Apple compiled.
However, on June 19, 2025, it was reported that the EU had said it might not immediately impose the fines on Apple. At that point, it was suggested that the European Commission would first conduct an analysis and then share the findings from that with Apple.
Now according to the Financial Times, though, for the potential postponement is because Apple is currently negotiating with the EU. The European Commission has confirmed that it is working with Apple "to discuss effective compliance."
Unspecified sources said to be involved in the negotiations say that Apple is expected to offer the EU concessions on its steering provisions. These are its rules that have previously forbidden app developers to promote alternative offers or means of payment to Apple's own in-app purchase systems.
While no further details of the concessions are known, it is further said that Apple's Core Technology Fee is being discussed. This is the fee Apple levies for the use of its App Store distribution platform for developers who use alternative stores.
The European Commission has not confirmed what subjects are under discussion. A spokesperson has said only that "the commission has ample regulatory powers at its disposal, if Apple continues to be in breach of its obligations under the DMA."
Those powers include the imposition of escalating fines should Apple persist in its alleged non-compliance. Those fines can ultimately reach 5% of Apple's average daily revenue worldwide.
According to figures by MacroTrends, Apple's for the financial year 2024-2025 was $400.4 billion. So 5% of its daily revenue is approximately $55 million.
While that is a penalty on top of the existing fine, it's still markedly lower than the $2 billion the EU previously fined Apple over claimed Apple Music transgressions. It's been claimed that the EU toned down its fines in an attempt to avoid confrontation with Trump.