The Pros and Cons of Industrial Policy
Our annual international Pros and Cons conference, where academics and practitioners meet and discuss critical aspects of competition law and policy will take place in Stockholm on Monday 19 May, 2025. Previous conferences, widely attended by enforcers, lawyers and consultants, have been greatly appreciated and we are certain that this year’s event will be no exception.
The Pros and Cons 2025 conference is now open for in person attendance registration.
The theme of the 23rd edition of the Pros and Cons conference in 2025 is Industrial Policy and its link to competition policy. Recent calls for a more activist industrial policy has put some strain on the principles of competition policy, since certain measures relating to industrial policy may distort markets and restrain free competition.
The debate highlights what policy-makers can do revive and unlock the economic potential in Europe without risking adverse effects on competition that may hurt consumers and economic growth over time.
It also challenges long-established positions: Can a more activist industrial policy be truly pro-competitive? Does an overhaul of industrial policy also necessitate an overhaul of competition policy? Do European firms have a scale disadvantage and is the EU merger regime the culprit? What is the appropriate role for competition authorities where industrial policy instruments are sharpened and emboldened? What should they not do?
The Pros and Cons 2025 conference will invite alternative answers to these questions by prominent scholars, regulators and private practitioners.
A keynote address introduces the theme, which is followed by three panels.
- Panel 1: The Industrial Policy in Europe is under serious renovation: is a face-lift also necessary for Competition Policy?
- Panel 2: Are European firms too small to be globally competitive?
- Panel 3: What is the appropriate role for Competition Authorities when Industrial Policy is overhauled?
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 8.30 | Registration and Coffee |
| 9.00 | Welcome address by Marie Östman, Director General, Swedish Competition Authority |
| 9.10 |
Keynote address Andrea Coscelli, Senior Partner, Head of Keystone Europe, Keystone |
| 9.30 | Panel 1: The Industrial Policy in Europe is under serious renovation: is a face-lift also necessary for Competition Policy? Reinhilde Veugelers, Professor at KU Leuven Lluís Saurí, former acting Chief Economist at the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission David Bosco, Professor of Competition Law at Aix-Marseille University Jérémie Jourdan, Director of Competition Law and Public Policy at Schibsted Marketplaces Moderator: Antonio Capobianco, Deputy Head of the OECD Competition Committee |
| 10.40 |
Fruit break |
| 11.10 |
Panel 2: Are European firms too small to be globally competitive?
|
| 12.20 | Lunch |
| 13.35 |
Panel 3: What is the appropriate role for Competition Authorities when Industrial Policy is overhauled? Marcus Bokkerink, Previous Chair of Board, Competition and Markets Authority
|
| 14.45 | Concluding remarks |
| 14.55 | Afternoon Coffee (Swedish fika) |
Venue
The conference venue is World Trade Center (Meeting room: New York), Klarabergsviadukten 70, Stockholm. See map
Questions
If you have any question regarding the conference, please do not hesitate to contact the project manager Alma Hemberg (alma.hemberg@kkv.se) or the content organiser Karl Lundvall (karl.lundvall@kkv.se).
In case of questions regarding your registration or if you need to cancel, please contact Gabriela Broja (gabriela.broja@kkv.se ) administration/logistics.
Registration
The conference is free of charge. Registration for in person participation is open.
Register for the conference Pros and Cons 2025 to attend the event in person
Conference recording
A link to the conference recording will be published on our web site, available at a later date.
The information on this website will continuously be updated.