WIK Online Workshop - Debating the EU Digital Markets Act on 23 March 2021 Who are the “gatekeepers” and how should they be regulated? In December 2020, the European Commission published proposals for a “Digital Markets Act”, which would apply regulatory controls on “gatekeeper” platforms which act as vital gateways to the digital economy. WIK-Consult, together with ICF, Cullen International and CEPS prepared the support study for the Impact Assessment accompanying the DMA. In this virtual seminar, with the aid of leading academics, major platforms and their users and challengers, we explore the rationale behind the Digital Markets Act and tackle key questions around its design and impact. The first session will be introduced by Michael Koenig, deputy head of unit for retail and online services at the European Commission (DG GROW) and one of the leading architects of the Digital Markets Act. Afterwards, we invite Prof. Marshall van Alstyne (Questrom Professor of Management at Boston University) to give a keynote presentation and introduce the scientific discussion. We will also hear contributions from Prof. William Kovacic (Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy at George Washington University Law School and non-executive Director of the UK Competition & Markets Authority) and Prof. Jan Krämer (Professor of Internet & Telecommunications Business at the University of Passau and Academic Co-Director at the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE)). The session will be moderated by Prof. Alexandre de Streel (Professor of EU Law at University of Namur and Academic Co-Director at CERRE). Finally, in an interactive session chaired by Philippe Defraigne, Director of Cullen International, we will debate the provisions of the DMA with insights and contributions from the following stakeholders: Johan Keetelaar (Facebook), Ben Schroeter (Booking.com), Amaury Libbrecht(AIM), Jacques Lovell (HOTREC), Jan Penfrat (EDRi). More |