Apple claims that the European Commission refuses to make changes to the App Store, utilizing alternatively ‘political hold tactics’ to initiate unfair investigations and impose fines. Apple submitted a message Bloomberg in consequence to MacPaw's decision to close an alternate Setapp Mobile store, with iOS applications in the EU, due to the complex trading conditions it faces.
The European Commission has refused us to make the changes it has requested. In October, we submitted a formal compliance plan, and they inactive haven't responded. The European Commission is utilizing a policy of political hold to mislead the public, change targets and unfairly attack an American company by initiating burdensome investigations and imposing advanced fines.
MacPaw plans to end Setapp Mobile in the EU 16 February 2026. The company announced that it was closing the application due to "complicated trading conditions that do not match the current Setapp business model", but MacPaw did not supply further details. Apple does indeed have a complex toll structure in Europe, both for app stores and applications distributed through them. Apple allows app stores in the EU under the Digital Markets Act, which is supervised by the European Commission.
The European Commission is preparing to blame Apple for closing Setapp in the EU, as Bloomberg has reached. "Apple has not introduced changes that would solve the key problems of its trading conditions, including their complexity", the European Commission is allegedly planning to propose.
Apple claims that it did not simplify its trading conditions in the EU as expected due to the fact that the European Commission refused to amend.
Apple besides argues that in Europe request for alternate app stores is tiny and the company claims that this is not the reason for the closure of Setapp.
