The Commission is carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the data centre construction sector, and has also sent out formal requests for information to several companies active in the same sector.

It said it has concerns that companies in the data centre construction sector may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices.

In particular, the Commission is investigating “possible collusion in the form of no-poach agreements”.

The EU has not named the companies or member states involved in the operation, but said Commission officials carrying out inspections were accompanied by their relevant national competition authority counterparts.