2151 UTS logo FINAL White

This event has now taken place. Thank you to all our partners, speakers and delegates. Rewatch the panel sessions in full on our YouTube channel here.

Highlights Video

Event Replays

DSA Week Session 1: Competition in the Digital Economy

DSA Week Session 2: Platforms and User Generated Content

DSA Week Session 3: E-Commerce and Marketplaces

DSA Week Session 4: Margrethe Vestager & Concluding Discussion

Digital Services Act Conference Brussels Belgium

About the Series

The series will assess what is required to create conditions that foster fair competition for digital platforms and the media sector to thrive, and to safeguard an open and safe online space. It will also discuss how to ensure the internet continues to be a key driver for innovation, economic growth, democratic discourse and social progress. The series will include discussions on:
  • New competition rules and ex-ante regulation;
  • Platform liability and content regulatory oversight;
  • E-Commerce and liability exemptions;
  • Digital economy and its role in society.

Featuring a keynote intervention from...

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President, “A Europe Fit For The Digital Age”, European Commission will participate in the final session of the series on 3 July.

Please see the “Speakers” section below for all confirmed speakers. 

Margrethe Vestager

You will also hear from...

Alex Agius Saliba

ALEx AGIUS SALIBA

Rapporteur for the DSA Initiative, IMCO Committee, European Parliament

European Parliament

Lucrezia Busa

lucrezia busa

Member of Didier Reynders' Cabinet

European Commission

Prabhat Agarwal

Prabhat Agarwal

Acting Head of Unit, E-Commerce and Platforms, DG CONNECT

European Commission

Daniel Matray Update 240_240

Daniel Matray

Head of App Store and Apple Media Services, Europe

Apple

Tiemo Woelken, MEP

Tiemo WÖLKEN, MEP

Rapporteur for the DSA Initiative, JURI Committee, European Parliament

European Parliament

Andreas Schwab, MdEP

Andreas schwab, MdEP

EPP Group Coordinator, IMCO Committee

European Parliament

Pablo Arias Echeverría, MEP

Pablo Arias Echeverría, MEP

EPP Group Vice-Coordinator, IMCO Committee

European Parliament

Daniel Braun

Daniel Braun

Deputy Head of Cabinet, Věra Jourová, Vice President for Values and Transparency

EU Commission

Javier Espinoza

Javier Espinoza

EU Correspondent

Financial Times

Jason Oxman

Jason Oxman

President and CEO

ITI

Michelle Gibbons

michelle gibbons

Director General

AIM - European Brands Association

Michael Koenig

MICHAEL KÖNIG

Deputy Head of Unit, Retail and Online Services, DG GROW

European Commission

Lewis Crofts

Lewis Crofts

Editor-In-Chief

MLex

Maryant Fernández Pérez

Maryant Fernández Pérez

Senior Digital Policy Officer

BEUC

Stefan Naumann

Stefan Naumann

Head of Commercial Law

Zalando

Inge Graef

INge Graef

Assistant Professor

University of Tilburg

Siada El Ramly

Siada El Ramly

Director General

EDiMA

Miguel Poiares Maduro

Miguel Poiares Maduro

Professor, School of Transnational Governance

European University Institute

Frédéric Donck

Frédéric Donck

Regional Vice President - Europe

ISOC

Dr. Alea Fairchild

Alea Fairchild

Principal Advisor, Technology Enablement

Ecosystm

Research Fellow

The Constantia Institute

Serge Abiteboul

Serge Abiteboul

Board Member

Arcep

Jan Penfrat

Jan Penfrat

Senior Policy Advisor

EDRi

Dora Palfi

Dora Palfi

Co-Founder & CEO

imagiLabs

Agenda

***ALL TIMINGS ARE IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN STANDARD TIME (CEST)***

Day 1
2020-06-30
Day 2
2020-07-01
Day 3
2020-07-02
Day 4
2020-07-03
13:00 - 13:30
Pre-Session Networking

Participants arrive on the platform and are able to network with each other (non-obligatory).

13:30 - 13:50
Opening Speeches
Daniel Matray
Head of App Store and Apple Media Services Europe, Apple
13:50 - 15:20
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy

In the recent Communication on Shaping Europe’s Digital Future, the European Commission suggested that competitions issues will be central to discussions relating to DSA, explaining that it would further “explore, in the context of the Digital Services Act package, ex ante rules to ensure that markets characterised by large platforms with significant network effects acting as gate-keepers, remain fair and contestable for innovators, businesses, and new market entrants”.

This session will examine what any regulation might look like, seek to determine what exactly constitutes a “gatekeeper” platform, and what role and responsibilities they might have in the context of the necessity for competitive markets? To what extent could ex-ante regulation help ensure fairness and openness of markets and improve the choice and experience of consumers and users? What impacts may ex-ante rules have on different stakeholders?

Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Lewis Crofts
Editor-In-Chief, MLex
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Inge Graef
Assistant Professor, Tilburg University
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Andreas Schwab
MEP, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Prabhat Agarwal
Acting Head of Unit, E-Commerce and Platforms, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Frédéric Donck
Regional Vice-President, Europe, Internet Society.
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Jason Oxman
President and CEO, ITI
Discussion: Competition in the Digital Economy image
Dora Palfi
Co-Founder, imagiLabs
15:20 - 15:40
‘Have Your Say…’

An interactive discussion and networking session – audience members will have the chance to take the floor and give their thoughts on the discussions that have taken place in the previous panel.

15:40 - 16:00
Post-Session Networking

While not compulsory, we highly recommend getting involved and meeting like-minded delegates.

10:00 - 10:30
Pre-Session Networking

Participants arrive on the platform and are able to network with each other (non-obligatory).

10:30 - 12:00
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content

Policymakers have called for online platforms to take a more proactive role in addressing harmful and illegal content, leading to initiatives such as the ‘Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online’ and the ‘Code of Practice on Disinformation’. It is argued however that voluntary self-regulation hasn’t been effective, with platforms increasingly being criticised for failing at tackling illegal content, hate speech, the spread of so-called ‘fake news’ and other illegal or harmful activities. In response to this, countries such as Germany, the UK and more recently France have passed their own national laws to tackle these issues. As calls have intensified to clarify rules regarding platform responsibilities at EU level, questioning the liability exemptions that platforms have been enjoying under the e-Commerce Directive (known as ‘Safe Harbour’) it is expected that the Digital Services Act will contain obligations for online platforms to have a “duty of care” for content that is both hosted and shared on their sites.

In an era where online material is increasingly user-generated, this session will discuss how platforms can go further in removing illegal and harmful content, as well as disinformation and fake news, without undermining freedom of expression, hindering innovation, all without a deterioration in the user experience.

Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Javier Espinoza
EU Correspondent, Financial Times
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Lucrezia Busa
Member of Didier Reynders' Cabinet, European Commission
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Tiemo Wölken
Rapporteur for the DSA Initiative, JURI Committee, European Parliament
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Serge Abiteboul
Board Member, Arcep
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Siada El Ramly
Director General, EDiMA
Discussion: Platforms and User Generated Content image
Jan Penfrat
Senior Policy Advisor, EDRi
12:00 - 12:30
‘Have Your Say…’

An interactive discussion and networking session – audience members will have the chance to take the floor and give their thoughts on the discussions that have taken place in the previous panel.

12:30 - 13:00
Post-Session Networking

While not compulsory, we highly recommend getting involved and meeting like-minded delegates.

10:00 - 10:30
Pre-Session Networking

Participants arrive on the platform and are able to network with each other (non-obligatory).

10:30 - 12:00
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces

Counterfeit and unsafe products sold on internet platforms continue to be a priority area for e-commerce players, brands and consumer advocates amongst others. This session will look at how the DSA will seek to address and update policy on the relationships between platforms, brands, manufacturers and consumers, focusing on trust, competition, liability and cross-sectoral cooperation.

Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Alea Fairchild
Principal Advisor, Technology Enablement, Ecosystm & Research Fellow, Constantia Insititute
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Maryant Fernández Pérez
Senior Digital Policy Officer, BEUC
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Michael König
Deputy Head of Unit, Retail and Online Services, DG GROW, European Commission
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Michelle Gibbons
Director-General, AIM - European Brands Association
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Stefan Naumann
Head of Commercial Law, Zalando
Discussion: E-Commerce and Marketplaces image
Pablo Arias Echeverría, MEP
Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), European Parliament
12:00 - 12:30
‘Have Your Say…’

An interactive discussion and networking session – audience members will have the chance to take the floor and give their thoughts on the discussions that have taken place in the previous panel.

12:30 - 13:00
Post-Session Networking

While not compulsory, we highly recommend getting involved and meeting like-minded delegates.

13:30 - 14:00
Pre-Session Networking

Participants arrive on the platform and are able to network with each other (non-obligatory).

14:00 - 14:15
Keynote Speech from Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
Keynote Speech from Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission image
Margrethe Vestager
Executive Vice President, European Commission, A Europe Fit For The Digital Age
14:15 - 15:45
Concluding Discussion

This concluding session will draw together the discussions from the previous sessions. Panellists will give immediate reaction to Executive Vice President Vestager’s remarks before discussing how the DSA should deal with harmful material such as fake news and disinformation, as well as tying up any loose threads from the previous days’ discussions.

Concluding Discussion image
Paul Adamson
Chairman, Forum Europe
Concluding Discussion image
Miguel Poiares Maduro
Professor, European University Institute
Concluding Discussion image
Alex Agius Saliba
MEP
Concluding Discussion image
Daniel Braun
Deputy Head of Cabinet, Věra Jourová, Values and Transparency, EU Commission
Concluding Discussion image
Prabhat Agarwal
Acting Head of Unit, E-Commerce and Platforms, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Concluding Discussion image
Siada El Ramly
Director General, EDiMA
Concluding Discussion image
Michelle Gibbons
Director-General, AIM - European Brands Association
Concluding Discussion image
Jason Oxman
President and CEO, ITI
Concluding Discussion image
Frédéric Donck
Regional Vice-President, Europe, Internet Society.
15:45 - 16:15
Post-Session Networking

While not compulsory, we highly recommend getting involved and meeting like-minded delegates.

Select date to see events.

Resources

A number of event sponsors and speakers have provided videos discussing The DSA Week and the importance of the Digital Services Act. There are also a number of position papers in this section that can be viewed and downloaded.

Please go to the Resources page to see these materials. 

DSA Week Outcomes

Replays of The DSA Week sessions are available now at the top of this website. The summary report of proceedings is available below.

Sponsors and Partners

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Under the Spotlight...

About the series

Forum Europe is proud to present ‘Under the Spotlight…’ – a strategic series of virtual EU policy events focussing on a range of key policy files and topics across different subject areas.

Working alongside thought-leaders and policymakers, each event will put a specific area ‘under the spotlight’ – providing a platform for a detailed discussion on the policy issues involved. By bringing together key stakeholders in this way, the aim of the series is to support transparency and inclusion in the policymaking process in a format that is accessible to all.

If you have an issue that you would like to see explored as part of the Under the Spotlight series contact James Wilmott at  | + 44 (0) 29 20 783 020.

Virtual Event

This series of events will be taking place using Forum Europe’s virtual solution – Forum Vision. For more details on our virtual solution, please visit forum-vision.com.

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