Alternative enforcement techniquesA new paradigm of EC competition law?

Thursday, 5 June 2008 9.00 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. - FEB, Brussels

Over the past decade, EC competition law has undergone successive substantive reforms. Whilst most of the legal and economic issues arising from their implementation have now been settled, a new wave of reforms, which could potentially remould the institutional architecture of the EC competition system, is now on the table.

These reforms cover areas including the promotion of private enforcement, settlements and leniency applications for hardcore infringements, commitment decisions, market inquiries, informal regulation through guidelines and guidance letters. The seminar will take a fresh look at the development of alternative enforcement techniques.

High-profile academics, senior officials and prominent practitioners in this domain have been invited to discuss the rationale underlying these reforms and, more importantly, their likely legal and practical consequences.

All participants to the conference will receive a document folder which will include the papers prepared for the conference, as well as a full set of relevant materials.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Conference organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium and the Institute for European Legal Studies of the University of Liège (LL.M. in EC Competition and IP Law)

1

8.30 Registration and coffee

9.00 Welcome remarks and purpose of the day Charles GHEUR, Deputy Advisor, FEB Nicolas PETIT, Professor, University of Liège

I. Morning session: Chair: Jacques BOURGEOIS, WilmerHale, Professor, College of Europe, President of the Competition Commission

9.15 Presentation of the White Paper on damages actions for breach of competition rules Eddy DE SMIJTER, DG Competition, European Commission

9.45 A critical overview of the White Paper on damages actions: remaining issues and difficulties Assimakis KOMNINOS, Associate, White & Case LLP

10.15 Coffee break

10.30 Private enforcement - The Business community’s viewpoint Philippe LAMBRECHT, Secretary General, FEB

11.00 Private enforcement - The Belgian authority’s viewpoint Jacques STEENBERGEN, Director-General, Belgian Competition Service

11.30 Panel Discussion and Q&A Session Frédéric PUEL, Partner, FIDAL Christophe ROQUILLY, Professor, EDHEC Business School Anne-Lise SIBONY, Professor, University of Liège Evelyne TERRYN, Professor, University of Leuven

12.30 Lunch

P R O G R A M M E

2

II. Afternoon session: Chair: Jean-François BELLIS, Van Bael & Bellis, Professor, University of Brussels

1.30 Draft Regulation on settlement procedure Flavio LAINA, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Competition, European Commission

2.00 Settlements - A practitioner’s viewpoint David HULL, Partner, Covington & Burling, Brussels and Professor, University of Liege

2.30 Commitment Decisions under Regulation 1/2003 John TEMPLE LANG, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

3.00 Coffee break

3.15 Alternative enforcement techniques - The UK experience Christopher BROWN, Barrister, Farrer & Co LLP, London

3.45 Sunshine enforcement? - Sector inquiries, guidelines, guidance letters and inapplicability decisions Nicolas PETIT, Professor, University of Liège Miguel RATO, Howrey LLP

4.15 The rise of alternative enforcement techniques - What is left to the courts? Denis WAELBROECK, Partner, Ashurst and Professor, University of Brussels and College of Europe 4.45 Q&A Session

5.15 End of conference

3

Alternative enforcement techniquesA new paradigm of EC competition law?

Thursday, 5 June 2008 9.00 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. - FEB, Brussels

Date and venue Thursday 5 June 2008, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. FEB, 4 rue Ravenstein, 1000 Brussels Access map: please consult www.feb.be Car Park: Grand Place, 104 Rue Marché aux Herbes, 1000 Brussels (Near the Hôtel “Le Méridien”)

Participation Fee - * 250.00, excluding VAT (21 %) for non - members - * 230.00, excluding VAT (21 %) for members of a federation affiliated to the FEB - *150.00, excluding VAT (21 %) for academics and public officials This should be paid upon receipt of the invoice. Your payment should mention the following details: ‘Competition Law + 05/06/08 + name(s) of the participant(s)’

Working Language English

For more information on registration and cancellation Christine Taskin, T: +32 2 515 08 97 - F: +32 2 515 09 15 - ct@vbo-feb.be Cancellations will only be admissible if they are sent in writing to Christine Taskin. If you are unable to attend, you can have a colleague attend in your place. The fee will be due unless your registration is cancelled in writing at least 3 working days before the event. For practical information Daisy Marits, T: +32 2 515 09 11 - F: +32 2 515 09 15 - dma@vbo-feb.be

P R A C T I C A L I N F O R M AT I O N

Conference organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgiumand the Institute for European Legal Studies of the University of Liège (LL.M. in EC Competition and IP Law)

4

Alternative enforcement techniquesA new paradigm of EC competition law?

Thursday, 5 June 2008 9.00 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. - FEB, Brussels

R E G I s T R AT I O N F O R M

Please return this reply slip to Christine Taskin by 28 May 2008 at the latestF: +32 2 515 09 15 or e-mail: ct@vbo-feb.be Mr Mrs English French Dutch

Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS letters. Thank youSurname:First Name: Function: Company/Organisation: Address:Post Code + Town: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Company registration number: VAT taxpayer: Yes NoInvoice address (if different from above): Are you affiliated to a federation? If so, which one ? The person(s) mentioned above: Will attend the conference on 5 June, 2008 and will send a payment of: * 250.00 excluding VAT (21 %) for non - members * 230.00 excluding VAT (21 %) for members of a federation affiliated to the FEB * 150.00 excluding VAT (21 %) for academics and public officials

cannot attend the conference on 5 June, 2008

Date Signature

We use your information with a view to the organisation of events and to keep you informed of upcoming activities. Under the law of 8 December 1992 on the protection of privacy, this information will be sent to you upon simple request and corrected where appropriate

Conference organised by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgiumand the Institute for European Legal Studies of the University of Liège (LL.M. in EC Competition and IP Law)

5