Good morning, dear colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to be here to celebrate the first anniversary of this Commission together with you. This is also why I could not join you last year, and all the more reason why I am very happy to be with you today.
It is absolutely true that this organisation remains a stronghold of multilateralism in a rapidly changing world, and it is essential that we continue working together.
Secretary General, I want to express my deep appreciation for this house. Like the European Union, it was born in the aftermath of the Second World War. It stands as a reminder of how cooperation, dialogue, debate and sound information can drive development, prosperity and peace across the world.
And this mission remains just as vital today.
Twenty-five years ago, we embarked on a great adventure.
We worked together as part of this spirit. This Forum has brought together over a hundred authorities and experts from all continents of the globe with a simple purpose: to make markets work for people.
You were highlighting how markets evolve, and how issues such as antitrust, the use of subsidies, and some of our most significant differences all play a role. These developments matter, and we must pay close attention to the real economy to understand how markets truly function.
In this landscape we identified new challenges, sustainability, the green agenda, the power of the digital markets and even the artificial intelligence that are shaping markets very differently from not so far ago.
And yes, it is a true part of our mission to ensure the proper importance of the rule of law, of the specific regulation that is being adopted in our different nations, constituencies and jurisdictions.
But also, the understanding of the policy challenges that make us think on how we can assess the different circumstances to identify the positions, the markets, the theories of harm or the eventual abuse of dominance.
Doing so, we help protect the democratic spirit that sits at the heart of competition policy: the idea that no economic power should become so dominant that people lose choice or voice.
As enforcers, we help shape markets that reward effort, creativity, and fairness. Markets where businesses can succeed on merit, not on privilege. Markets that support innovation instead of blocking it.
But none of this happens in isolation.
Competition authorities operate inside real societies, with real pressures and real expectations. Societies facing rising costs, shifting technologies, artificial intelligence threats, climate change and uneven opportunities.
We cant ignore those pressures. They shape how markets function, and they shape what people expect from us.
Our role is to stay connected to those realities: (i) to anchor our decisions in the world people actually live in; (ii) to protect and promote competition in the public interest, today and for the future.
We know that major global shifts are reshaping markets everywhere, and they demand competition authorities to be flexible and forward-looking.
And citizens are concerned about issues that touch their daily lives, their values: access to healthcare, affordable housing, high-quality goods and services, clean air, low energy bills, fair opportunities, not being blocked or biased because of access to digital markets
These are the measures by which people judge whether markets are working for them or whether they are facing new challenges that could undermine their capacities to decide and lead.
Competition authorities must remain responsive.
We need to understand the pressures people face, and ensure our policies protect their access to essential goods and services, and foster fair economic opportunities.
But we know that one size does not fit all. This is because competition policy must be adapted to local realities. As the ones responsible for our respective jurisdictions, it is essential that we listen, discuss and exchange ideas, but at the same time we cannot copy-paste models without considering livelihoods and social fabric.
That ensures that our decision are: (i) grounded in society, (ii) sensitive to local peoples needs, and (iii) designed to support fairness, inclusion, and sustainability.
This is how I understand our mission: to make change work for open, fair, and people-centred markets.
In the European Union, competition enforcement remains independent, rules-based, and grounded in evidence.
Our procedures take time, to ensure we protect the rights of all parties. Ultimately our decisions are subject to judicial review.
European citizens have entrusted us with a one important mission: to maintain a level playing field where businesses competing on merit and benefiting society can thrive.
When defending being independent, we mean resisting pressure from any anyone while staying focused on the public good.
In every decision, we are mindful of the economic and societal context in which businesses operate. That is why the ongoing policy reforms - such as the revision of the merger guidelines or the updates to the antitrust procedures - are more than automatic technical updates.
They may take time. They may be improved. We want to listen to everybody and to be sure that whatever response we may come with is sound.
They are about keeping competition policy effective for citizens: ensuring markets stay open, curbing abuses, and supporting innovation that benefits all.
Competition authorities worldwide face the same challenge: preserving independence while remaining connected to the daily lives of citizens, while taking decisions based on data
This is a shared responsibility.
We must reaffirm our commitment to the principles at the heart of competition: fairness, openness, and accountability.
We stand alongside other authorities in this mission: (i) whether enforcing antitrust rules, (ii) guiding legislative reforms, or (iii) supporting new frameworks for fair competition in digital markets.
Around the world, we see efforts to adopt rules similar to the EUs Digital Markets Act, giving clear guidance for competition in digital markets and ensuring innovation benefits society.
We remain committed to supporting other authorities efforts through knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and mutual learning.
In this way we can strengthen the impact of competition policy in the digital sector for citizens globally.
Competition law is not a tool for controlling markets or advancing narrow economic interests. It is an essential pillar of open, fair, and sustainable markets. It should never be a bargaining chip in trade negotiations or a tool for protectionism.
Its purpose is to safeguard citizens welfare and strengthen economies in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
For this, international cooperation, dialogue and a strong commitment to multilateralism are essential.
This Forum is an ideal platform to reflect not only on what competition law is, but to foster multilateral cooperation for the benefit of all our citizens.
By working together, sharing experiences, and learning from each other, we can ensure that competition policy supports economic resilience, competitiveness and social progress around the globe.
In this process, competition policy must stay true to its mission.
Since 2001, the OECD Global Forum on Competition has been the focal point of this collaboration, and I am sure that we will be still identifying new challenges in the future.
Thank you.
