The European Commission has cleared Apple's acquisition of headphone and music subscription service Beats for $3 billion in cash and stock. The Brussels-based executive body said in a statement that the merging of the two businesses "did not raise competition concerns because the combined market share of Apple and Beats Electronics is low."

It also said that the two companies are "not close competitors" because the headphones they sell are markedly different in functionality and design.

Apple bought the company in May for $2.6 billion in cash and $400 million in stock. As part of the deal, Apple is acquiring the streaming service. Commenting on thatt, the Commission said though Apple's iTunes is available in Europe's 28 member states, Beats is currently not.