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Cyprus Chamber Calls For Competitiveness Review After BrainRocket Exit

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has called for a review of Cyprus’ competitiveness following reports that technology company BrainRocket has closed its Limassol offices and offered relocation packages to most remaining employees.

BrainRocket Case Raises Wider Concerns

Keve said it would be premature to draw conclusions about BrainRocket’s decision without official information from the company. However, it said the reported withdrawal should prompt a broader discussion about Cyprus’ business environment.

BrainRocket reportedly closed its Limassol offices and other leased facilities, with remaining employees working remotely and most offered relocation packages to Spain or other countries. The move follows a restructuring that began in summer 2025, when the company shifted a substantial part of its operations to Valencia.

BrainRocket employed about 1,500 people in Cyprus at the time, with more than 1,000 affected by the restructuring.

Costs, Regulation And Talent Under Review

Keve said Cyprus still benefits from EU membership, a professional services sector, skilled workers, its location and a growing technology ecosystem. At the same time, it warned that these advantages cannot be taken for granted as competition for investment and talent increases.

The chamber called for greater attention to operating and energy costs, housing, bureaucracy, licensing and immigration procedures, infrastructure and access to specialized workers. It also stressed the importance of a stable and predictable tax and regulatory environment.

Keve said it wants to work with the government to assess the BrainRocket case and identify practical measures to strengthen Cyprus’ competitiveness.

Pillar Two Adds To Business Concerns

The discussion comes alongside wider concerns over Cyprus’ tax competitiveness. The American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus has separately called for a balanced implementation of the OECD/G20 Pillar Two global minimum tax framework.

AmCham has warned that changes could affect future investment, employment and Cyprus’ position as an international business hub. It said some US-headquartered multinationals could reconsider expansion plans or choose other jurisdictions if Cyprus becomes less competitive, although the potential impact remains uncertain.

Keve stressed that one company’s decision does not determine the outlook for the Cypriot economy. It said such cases should nevertheless prompt timely assessment and action before competitiveness concerns become structural disadvantages.

Booking Holdings Loses EU Appeal In €1.63 Billion ETraveli Deal Ruling

Booking Holdings has lost its challenge to the European Union’s veto of its €1.63 billion acquisition of ETraveli, marking a significant victory for regulators and underscoring the bloc’s tougher stance on large-scale tech and platform deals.

European Court Backs Commission’s Merger Analysis

On Wednesday, Europe’s second-highest court sided with the European Commission, which blocked the deal in 2023 on the grounds that it would have deepened Booking’s market power and made it harder for competitors to challenge its position in online travel services.

The Luxembourg-based General Court rejected Booking’s claim that the Commission had failed to follow its own merger rules and had applied the wrong legal test. In its ruling, the court said regulators were correct to conclude that acquiring ETraveli, one of Europe’s leading online flight booking platforms, would have reinforced Booking’s already dominant position in online travel agencies tied to hotel bookings.

Why Regulators Stepped In

The case reflects a broader shift in European competition policy. In recent years, the Commission has intensified scrutiny of acquisitions by dominant technology and platform companies, warning that so-called “killer acquisitions” can weaken competition by absorbing smaller but strategically important rivals before they grow into serious threats.

For regulators, the concern was not simply the size of the transaction, but the strategic logic behind it: combining a major hotel booking platform with a leading flight booking operator could have created a more integrated travel ecosystem that rival firms might struggle to match.

What The Deal Would Have Added To Booking’s Portfolio

Booking’s portfolio includes Booking.com, Rentalcars, Priceline and Agoda, giving it broad reach across global travel services. ETraveli, owned by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, operates brands such as Gotogate and Mytrip and also provides airline content distribution through TripStack.

The combination would have expanded Booking’s ability to offer a wider set of travel products within a single ecosystem, a model that can strengthen customer retention but also raise concerns about market concentration and competitive foreclosure.

Appeal Still Possible

The General Court’s ruling does not necessarily end the matter. Booking can still appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the bloc’s highest court, if it chooses to continue the legal fight.

For now, however, the decision stands as a reminder that in Europe, even large and established platform companies face increasing resistance when acquisitions appear likely to consolidate power rather than expand consumer choice.

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