The Changing Role of European Competition Policy: Past, Present and Future

Over the past decade, the scope of European competition policy has expanded significantly beyond its traditional focus on cartels, mergers, abuses of dominance and state aid controls. Today, it is increasingly expected to contribute to broader policy objectives, including ensuring fair digital markets, supporting sustainability, resilience and strategic sovereignty, and safeguarding Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage.

In this episode of Top of the Agenda, Dr Helen Jenkins speaks with Olivier Guersent, who, following a long career that began at the French Ministry of Economic and Finance and continued at the European Commission from the early 1990s, most recently served as Director General for Competition at the European Commission. Together, they reflect on the major transformations in European competition policy over recent decades and explore the challenges and developments shaping its present and future.