The approval by EU regulators of Apple's proposal to open up its mobile payment technology represents a significant step forward for the company in the European market. This regulatory development is likely to enhance Apple's competitive position in the mobile payments sector, potentially increasing its user base and revenue from services in the EU. The adjustments made to the proposal, following feedback from rivals and users, suggest that Apple is actively working to address regulatory concerns and market demands, which could positively impact investor sentiment and the stock price in the short term.

While the direct impact of the EU's approval of Apple's proposal on the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) is likely to be minimal, changes in the competitive landscape of the European tech sector could have broader implications. As Apple's mobile payment technology gains traction in Europe, it could influence the performance of European tech companies, some of which are constituents of the VGK ETF. However, given the diverse nature of VGK's holdings, the overall impact on the ETF is expected to be limited, hence the neutral score.