Event Summary: How Far Should the Scope of Antitrust be Extended: Innovation, Environment, Privacy?

Dinner and Discussion with Philippe Aghion, Benoît Cœuré, Olivier Guersent, Séverine Schrameck, and Antoine Chapsal

On September 13, 2023, more than 175 colleagues from prominent law firms, government, and industry gathered in Paris for dinner and discussion about competition policy, the ways in which competition intersects with the environment and data privacy, and the relationship between competition and innovation. The event was hosted by Analysis Group and Cleary Gottlieb, in association with Concurrences. Following introductory remarks by Cleary Gottlieb Partner Séverine Schrameck and Analysis Group Managing Principal Antoine Chapsal, the evening included a roundtable discussion of competition experts and regulators and a keynote address by Professor Philippe Aghion (Collège de France).

Séverine Schrameck and Antoine Chapsal moderated the roundtable discussion with Professor Aghion, Benoît Cœuré (head of the French Competition Authority), and Olivier Guersent (director-general of DG Comp, European Commission). The roundtable participants explored topics such as the relationship between competition and innovation; and the need for competition policy to account for sustainability concerns.

Antoine Chapsal introduced Professor Aghion’s keynote speech. Professor Aghion explored the necessity of innovation in the environmental space, whereby promoting creative destruction has the potential to accelerate the green transition. He also discussed barriers to the EU’s transition toward green energy technologies.

Listen to a recording of the roundtable discussion (in French), read a synopsis of the roundtable discussion and Professor Aghion’s keynote speech (in English and French), or read a transcript of both sessions in their entirety (in English and French).