Upcoming BEREC Stakeholder Forum will focus on regulation of digital platforms and on the Work Program 2021

14 October 2020

On 19 October 14:00 (CET), BEREC will hold its annual Stakeholder Forum to exchange ideas with stakeholders on the BEREC work and plans, as well as to discuss topics relevant to the telecommunications market.

The Forum will be kicked-off with the introductory remarks by the European Commissioner for Internal market - Thierry Breton. Among others, his responsibilities lie within leading the work of a for the reinforcement of the European Single Market for digital services, to clarify obligations of online platforms and, give smaller businesses legal clarity and a level playing field.

Michel Van Bellinghen, the incoming Chair of BEREC, will introduce the Work Programme for the upcoming year, whilst the current BEREC Chair Dan Sjöblom, along with the future perspectives, will elaborate on the perspectives of the telecommunications in handling the COVID-19 crisis.

The first part of the event will wrap-up with the questions and answers session. The moderator Philippe Defraigne (Cullen International) will facilitate stakeholders’ engagement with the BEREC Chairs, by taking on board both any sent-in as well as live questions.

Earlier this year, BEREC has already outlined the main topic of the Stakeholder Forum, namely - regulation of digital platforms. Focusing on the regulatory issues and collaboration between regulators, the Global Competition of Law and Policy professor at the G. Washington University Law School William E. Kovacic will give a keynote speech. The discussion on the regulation of digital platforms will follow with the distinguished speakers - Ursula Pachl (BEUC),  Benedikt Blomeyer (Allied for Startups), Kay Jebelli  (CCIA Europe), Luc Hindryckx (ECTA) and Lise Fuhr (ETNO). Matthew Newman (Mlex) will moderate the panel discussion.

Due to the unpredictable epidemiological situation worldwide, the event will take place online. This format will provide the opportunity for the event participants to engage with the speakers in real-time via AVC connection. The registration is already open on the BEREC website. In case of question to the Chairs, we invite the registered participants to indicate them in the registration form or to send them via email to [email protected] not later than 15 October 2020, EOB.

On the day of the event, the livestreaming of the BEREC Stakeholder Forum will appear on the front page of the BEREC website approximately 10-15 min before the start of the event.