Improving network and digital industries regulation
Neutrality obligations in the digital value chain – challenges & recommendations

This Executive Seminar will present and debate the findings of a new CERRE research project on 'Implementing effective remedies for anti-competitive intermediation bias on vertically integrated platforms’.
The past 5 years have seen a growing interest amongst European policy-makers in the concept of ‘platform neutrality’. Consumers face an abundance of choices in today’s digital world. Platforms perform a function of intermediary in filtering and organising these options for consumers.
Users’ attention is a scarce good and concerns about the capacity of digital platforms to direct a consumer’s attention towards some businesses and away from others have increased, especially for vertically integrated platforms.
Can digital vertical integration be compatible with ‘neutrality’?
Biased intermediation is expected to become an ever greater concern as a consumer’s attention is likely to become even scarcer, and hence more valuable. This report examines the challenges of designing and implementing remedies to address certain form of discrimination or ‘intermediation bias’ by vertically integrated digital platforms.
Join key actors from the digital sector, including representatives of platforms, telecom operators, regulatory authorities, policy-makers and academic experts, for an afternoon of stimulating discussions.
Free for CERRE members and CERRE academics
Free for representatives from EU Institutions and from Governments
Fee for non-CERRE members and non-CERRE academics
13:30 |
Registration & welcome coffee |
14:00 |
Welcome and introduction |
Director General,
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14:10 |
Part 1 | Structural vs. behavioral remedies for ensuring a level playing field in platform markets |
Research Fellow, CERRE
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14:35 |
Reaction from the EC followed by a moderated discussion |
Brice Allibert
Deputy Head of Unit, Antitrust: Information Industries, Consumer Electronics & Internet,
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15:35 |
Coffee break |
15:50 |
Part 2 | The role of experimentation in designing and monitoring the implementation of remedies |
Jan Krämer
Joint Academic Director, CERRE
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16:00 |
Reaction from the EC followed by a moderated discussion |
Werner Stengg
Head of Unit, E-Commerce & Online Platforms,
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16:55 |
Conclusions |
17:00 |
Cocktail reception |
Discussants |
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Lorelien Hoet
Director, EU Government Affairs,
Johan Keetelaar
Director, Public Policy,
Eduardo Lanza
Senior Manager, EU Affairs,
Anaïs Le Gouguec
Head, Economic Analysis & Digital Intelligence Unit,
Antonio Nicita
Member of the Board,
Alexandre de Streel
Joint Academic Director, CERRE
Tania Van den Brande
Director, Economics,
Alexis Walckiers
Chief Economist,
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Thursday 24 October 2019, 14.00-17.00,
Le Bouche à Oreille, 11 rue Félix Hap, 1040 Brussels
CERRE members and nominated guests receive priority when registering. All other registrations are provisional until confirmed by email by CERRE. If you have any questions about your registration, or do not receive a confirmation email, please contact info@cerre.eu