European Union
European Union

European Union

 

 
 

The George Washington University Competition and Innovation Lab has launched the European Initiative to gain a comprehensive understanding of regulation in the digital domain and innovation dynamics across various global regions. This initiative aims to
amplify the perspectives of European nations, providing insights into their distinct economic landscapes and mutual relationships. European countries are at the forefront of trends in digital trade, competition policy, and intellectual property, necessitating nuanced and in-depth analyses.


The European Union is leading global efforts in digital trade agreements and data governance, notably playing a pivotal role in negotiating the first global rules on digital trade within the World Trade Organization (WTO). In digital platform regulation, the EU&#39's initiatives include the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, extending to artificial intelligence with the AI Act and discussions on the Standard Essential Patents Regulation.
Furthermore, the EU is emphasizing alignment and coordination between market authorities to ensure consistency across various market sectors.


This chapter aims to facilitate debates and interactions among academics, policy officers from national and international organizations, and the private sector about a common regulatory toolbox. The goal is to enable supervisors and market authorities to develop best practices and avoid fragmented approaches. While European countries face similar challenges, significant differences among them must be taken into account. For instance, while the EU has begun to introduce new regulations to bring legal harmonization, Germany believes the European Commission should be empowered to impose remedies
after a sector inquiry.


Key questions for discussion during the European initiative include how market authorities can build coordination and institutional alignment to avoid redundancy and negative
externalities. Additionally, the initiative will explore the integration of trade and competition policy at the cross-border level, recognizing that trade policy and domestic regulation are
interconnected. Understanding the antitrust implications of trade rules, particularly in how the EU relates to China, the US, and the Global South, is crucial for shaping inclusive and effective policies.


This initiative underscores the importance of collaboration and tailored approaches in addressing the complex landscape of digital trade and innovation regulation within the European context, ultimately contributing to the development of more coherent and effective global policies.

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Oscar Borgogno

Oscar Borgogno

GW CIL’s European Union Initiative Lead

LinkedIn

 

 

Advisory Board

 

Konstantina Bania
Konstantina Bania

Konstantina Bania is a partner at Geradin Partners where she advises on cutting-edge competition and regulatory matters pertaining to digital markets.

Paolo Buccirossi
Paolo Buccirossi

Paolo Buccirossi is the director and founder of Lear, a consulting and research center specialized in competition economics.

Joseph Drexl
Josef Drexl

Josef Drexl is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, Honorary Professor and Member of the Bavarian Academy of Science.

Simon Evenett
Simon Evenett

Simon J Evenett is Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy at IMD. A globally recognized expert on trade, investment, and geopolitical dynamics.

Michal Gal
Michal Gal

Michal Gal is Professor and Director of the Forum on Law and Markets at the Faculty of Law, University of Haifa, Israel.

Youlia Lozanova
Youlia Lozanova

Youlia Lozanova brings 20 years of experience in digital development, specializing in policy and regulation for the ICT sector and digital markets.

Damien Neven
Damien Neven

Damien Neven is Professor of Economics at The Graduate Institute, Geneva and Academic Affiliate with Compass Lexecon.

Kristina Nordlander
Kristina Nordlander

Kristina Nordlander has a leading EU antitrust, litigation and regulatory practice with a particular focus on big tech and life sciences.

Xavier Vives
Xavier Vives

Xavier Vives is professor of Economics and Finance at IESE Business School. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from UC Berkeley.

 

Publications

PC

The European Commission’s Draft Article 102 Guidelines Under Fire: Examining the Substance and the Roots of the Criticism

Authored by: Marinova, Miroslava

The European Commission’s Draft Article 102 Guidelines Under Fire: Examining the Substance and the Roots of the Criticism

PC

Public Comments on the Draft Guidelines on the Application of Article 102 TFEU to Exclusionary Abuses

Authored by: Marinova, Miroslava

Reply to the European Commission Public Consultation on the Draft Guidelines on the Application of Article 102 TFEU to Exclusionary Abuses

A Comparative Analysis of Hungary and the U.S.

Fighting children’s social media addiction in Hungary and the US

Authored by: Mónika Mercz

Fighting children’s social media addiction in Hungary and the US

Isabella Lorenzoni

From the More Economic Approach to the More Digital and Data-Driven (DDD) Approach: Enforcing Competition Law in the Digital Era

Authored by: Isabella Lorenzoni

From the More Economic Approach to the More Digital and Data-Driven (DDD) Approach: Enforcing Competition Law in the Digital Era

Rethinking the As-Efficient Competitor Test: Assessing the wider impact of the CJEU’s Judgment in Unilever and its Implications in Shaping the European Commission's agenda to Reform Article 102 TFEU

Rethinking the As-Efficient Competitor Test: Assessing the wider impact of the CJEU’s Judgment in Unilever and its Implications in Shaping the European Commission's agenda to Reform Article 102 TFEU

Authored by: Marinova, Miroslava

Rethinking the As-Efficient Competitor Test: Assessing the wider impact of the CJEU’s Judgment in Unilever and its Implications in Shaping the EU

TRIPS Agreement

The TRIPS Agreement in the Face of IP Judicial Fragmentation

Authored by: Borgogno, Oscar

This working paper examines the global rise of antitrust litigation over IP-related ASIs, a tool with extraterritorial impact that limits patent enforcement on standard essential technologies. As...

AI

A Bottom-Up Proposal for Coordinated International AI Supervision

Authored by: Borgogno, Oscar

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to permeate across different industry sectors, offering unprecedented opportunities alongside significant risks. Effective governance necessitates coordinated...

DAO - Decentralized autonomous organization

Decentralised Autonomous Organizations: Targeting the Potential Beyond the Hype

Authored by: Oscar Borgogno and Edoardo Martino

Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) aim at innovating the organization forms for business activities.