COMPETITION LAW AND SECTOR REGULATION IN THE TELECOM AND PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS (European University Institute (EUI). Brussels, 22th March 2023)

The seminar aims at gathering academics, practitioners, officials from national governments and EU institutions, and industry representatives to debate the interaction of EU competition law and sector-specific regulation in the telecom and pharmaceutical sectors.

The seminar focuses on the interaction of EU competition law and sector-specific regulation in the telecommunications and pharmaceutical sectors. In network industries such as telecommunications, energy, or railway, economic regulation aims at fostering market liberalisation by imposing asymmetrical duties on the incumbent. In the pharmaceutical sector, regulation aims at solving information asymmetries and ensuring drug affordability for final consumers. Both in the network industries and in the pharmaceutical sector, sector regulation overlaps with EU competition policy.

The first panel will be devoted to the ongoing debate on fair sharing and network neutrality in the telecom sector, assessing whether and to what extent fair sharing may co-exist with the network neutrality principle. The second panel will focus on the pharmaceutical sector, looking at the case of excessive prices of off-patent drugs and debating whether and to what extent competition authorities could also sanction excessive prices of drugs covered by patents.

During the event, the speakers will also present the book "The Interaction of Competition Law and Sector Regulation. Emerging Trends at the National and EU Level", edited by Pier Luigi Parcu, Giorgio Monti, and Marco Botta (Edward Elgar Publishing).

<b>PRESENTATIONS</b>

Welcome

Hein Hobbelen, Bird & Bird. Pier Luigi Parcu, European University Institute

Presentation of the book "Interaction of Competition Law and Sector Regulation". Pier Luigi Parcum European University Institute

Panel I: Net neutrality and fair sharing in the telecom sector

Introduction. Anna Renata Pisarkiewicz, European University Institute

Panelists:

- Martin Cave, Imperial College Business School

- Pier Luigi Parcu, European University Institute

- Gera van Duijvenvoorde, Leiden University & KPN

- Peter Alexiadis, King's College London

Panel II: Excessive pricing in the pharmaceutical sector

Introduction. Marco Botta, European University Institute

Panelists:

- Adam Scott, UK Competition Appeal Tribunal

- Margherita Colangelo, University Roma Tre

- Ilan Akker, Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets

- Baptist Vleeshouwers, Bird&Bird

Keynote

Paul Csiszár, Director of DG Competition, European Commission

Chair

José Rivas, Bird & Bird