SPEAKER: KAREL VAN MIERT

Member of the European Commission 1989 - 1999
Responsible for Competition Policy 1993 - 1999

While Karel van Miert was European Competition Commissioner he was dubbed the "the most powerful man in Europe" by the media. A member of the European Commission since 1989, for 10 years he had responsibility in shaping several policy areas, including: transport, credit, investment and consumer policy, as well as competition policy.

At the forefront of European Commission Policy, Karel has been elemental in modernisation of European competition and deregulation policy. Using his profound knowledge of the direction of the European business environment, he offers corporations the know how to place their business advantageously in the future.

Karel has been involved in politics since leaving university. He became a leading figure in the Belgian Socialist Party. He was first appointed to the European Commission in 1989.

It was in 1993 that he first became responsible for competition policy, a role which brought him into the public eye. A proponent of the importance of the benefits of competition he has nevertheless been highly respected by the business community for his work regulating mergers and acquisitions and implementing a Europe wide competition policy.

In 2000 Karel became Chairman of the Board of Nijenrode Business School in the Netherlands, where he also lectures on competition law. In addition, he holds numerous international board level and advisory positions.

A highly sought after and keynote speaker, Karel is informative as well as insightful. He addresses top institutions and organisations on both sides of the Atlantic on issues related to Europe, international competition and globalisation. He speaks in English, French, German and Dutch.

His topics include :
     The Merger Wave
     The Liberalisation of the Telecom and the Energy Sectors
     Sport and European Competition Policy
     Co-operation between the US and European Competition Authorities
     Challenges now facing the European Union
     The Enlargement of the European Union
     The Consequences of the Euro for the European Economy