The Future of EU Merger Control: Squaring the Circle?

The European Commission's ongoing review of its merger guidelines attempts to reconcile the seemingly heterogeneous objectives of competitiveness, resilience, innovation and legal certainty within a single framework. This naturally raises a key question: can the Commission square the circle?

Join the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) and the ULiège Institute for EU Legal Studies in Brussels on October 15th for a high-level conference that will address this critical issue. Our conference aims to foster an open, high-level discussion that will bring answers to this complex question.

Across two insightful panels, leading competition policy experts will address the most pressing questions in European competition policy today: How should new guidelines reconcile expanded enforcement goals with existing EU law, court rulings, and standards of evidence? And how can merger control remain coherent and predictable while addressing emerging theories of harm and fast-moving markets? Our event aims to foster thought-provoking and interactive discussions on the potential direction and impact of these reforms.

Each panel is designed to be interactive, moving beyond presentations to facilitate a substantive debate. Following the moderated conversation, there will be ample time for an audience Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers and contribute their perspectives.

To join this important discussion, please register here. As places are limited, early registration is encouraged.

Please visit our webpage for more information.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sparks Meeting, 60 Rue Ravenstein, Bruxelles, Belgium