Autorité de la Concurrence

📌 Day 2 of the 23rd IKK delved straight into the institutional and structural core of competition policy. ➡️ In such a charged political environment, the question arises as to how the independence of competition authorities can be ensured. Independence is a key prerequisite for the credibility of competition policy. But how independent can competition authorities truly be in times of economic crisis, political pressure or fiscal constraints? From appointment procedures and budgetary control to informal political influence, the panel explored where formal autonomy meets real-world limitations. At stake are not only institutional structures, but also enforcement credibility and the rule of law itself. 👉 The key issue identified by Panel Panel IV with @BCoeure, William E. Kovacic and Mario Monti, moderated by Eleanor M. Fox: Autonomy must be safeguarded. Accountability must be ensured. And both principles must always be upheld, even under pressure. Many thanks for the great panel! 💬 Panel V: Mergers – innovation vs. foreclosure The next session moved on to one of the most dynamic areas of enforcement: merger control. Questions of how to promote innovation and the competitiveness of companies in a global context are becoming increasingly important, not least due to the impetus provided by the Draghi report, for example. Ingrid Vandenborre moderated an outstanding panel comprising Ingo Brinker, Eiji Chatani, Elisabetta Iossa, James A. Keyte and @TomValletti, who addressed a fundamental shift in perspective. 👉 The discussion underscored a central point: competition and innovation are not opposites. Well-designed merger control can protect dynamic rivalry – and it is precisely this rivalry that often drives innovation and long-term growth. 💬 The conference concluded with the Power Talk “Competition in the Age of Omnipresent Change,” which revisited and further elaborated on selected key topics from the conference. The focus was on developments in Europe and the United States, the challenges posed by large technology and AI companies, and the impact of geopolitical changes on competition. Many thanks go to: @tamzinbooth , @ruppe_p and Barry C. Lynn! #IKK2026 #Bundeskartellamt