Photo: Collected

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The European Commission on Tuesday welcomed changes made by Apple to its rules for app developers to address charges of breaking the bloc's competition rules -- and avert the risk of new fines.

The commission slapped Apple with a fine of 500 million euros ($586 million) in April 2025 after concluding it violated EU rules by preventing developers from steering customers outside its App Store to access cheaper deals.

An EU statement said Apple has committed to offer "revised" terms to developers for both the iPhone and iPad, namely letting them choose between the App Store, third-party app stores or the web as distribution channels.

"The Commission welcomes Apple's changes to their business terms," said a statement from the EU executive, saying the tech giant would implement the new terms in the bloc from October 2026.

The tech giant issued its own statement announcing the changes, which it said "resolve Apple's disagreements with the Commission over business terms and alternative distribution".

After last year's fine -- which Apple has appealed -- the firm was told to make changes to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), or face additional "periodic penalty payments" that could reach more than 50 million euros daily.

It submitted a first set of proposals the following June -- and has since been engaged in a to-and-fro with the commission over the final shape of its offer.

"At this stage the Commission is not considering periodic penalty payments, but is rather monitoring the announced measure," an EU spokesperson said, when asked whether Apple's undertaking lifted the threat of new penalties.

According to the commission, the new terms give developers "greater freedom" to steer App Store users towards alternative platforms and payment systems.

Apple also undertook to reduce and simplify its App Store fees, and EU users will be able to use alternative app distribution channels even when travelling outside the bloc, the commission said.

The EU reinforced its legal weaponry in recent years with major twin laws, the DMA and the Digital Services Act on content, which have been attacked by the US administration as regulatory overreach.

Apple has frequently hit out at the DMA antitrust rules, complaining it has no choice but to make the changes under threat of large fines.

The tech giant filed a challenge before a top EU court to argue that stricter DMA rules should not apply to its iOS operating system and App Store, but the case was thrown out last month.

US President Donald Trump has slammed the EU's digital laws and taxes as "non-tariff barriers" to trade and many tech bosses have aligned with his administration.