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The Brussels Beat

The Capitol Forum

Today, Europe stands at a critical juncture. Policymakers in Brussels are reconsidering how competition laws are interpreted, enforced, and reshaped. Amid landmark investigations and fines targeting tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Amazon, what will be Europe's next move? Are agriculture, banking, pharmaceuticals, or other major industries poised for new regulatory scrutiny? Can the EU courts reshape enforcement, or will regulatory ambitions face unexpected hurdles?

Hosted by Javier Espinoza, The Brussels Beat delivers insightful conversations with leading European antitrust experts, policymakers, legal analysts, and business leaders. Powered by rigorous investigative journalism and incisive analysis, Javier and his guests delve deep into Europe's evolving approach to monopoly power. This podcast is essential listening for executives, policymakers, legal professionals, and anyone interested in understanding Europe's strategic stance on antitrust issues, exploring the complex intersections of law, politics, and economics shaping the continent's future.

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17 episodes
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#18
September 3 · 48 min
Andreas Mundt: Brussels Shouldn't Enforce the DMA Alone
In this episode of the Brussels Beat, Javier Espinoza speaks with Andreas Mundt, president of Germany's Bundeskartellamt and the EU's longest-serving national competition chief. Mundt argues the European Commission shouldn't be the sole public enforcer of the Digital Markets Act, and explains why being unable to touch the DMA leaves cases in Bonn on shakier ground than they need to be. They also explore: Why the predicted turf war between Germany's Section 19a regime and the DMA never materialized, and how national authorities have coordinated on Apple's App Tracking Transparency program. Amazon's argument that Germany's digital markets regime duplicates Brussels, following the Bundeskartellamt's €59 million fine over seller pricing. Whether artificial intelligence makes existing digital market problems worse, and if Europe risks regulating a technology it doesn't yet have.
#17
May 21 · 28 min
A Tech Regulator and His Son's Warnings About AI
In this episode of the Brussels Beat, Javier Espinoza speaks with Werner Stengg, a member of the European Union's tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen’s cabinet, and his fifteen year old son Jakob, with whom he has co-authored a dystopian AI novel in which a computer has decided to get rid of mankind. They discuss whether Europe’s digital laws are capable of preventing such a scenario, and whether Europe strikes the right balance between innovation and regulation. They also explore: Whether today’s digital regulators are out of touch with the needs of future generations. The merits of restricting minors’ access to digital platforms as younger generations grow up alongside digital technologies. The current transatlantic disagreements over the enforcement of Europe’s digital rulebook against Big Tech companies.
#16
April 16 · 26 min
EU Antitrust Chief Warns New Merger Rules Won’t Give Dealmakers Carte Blanche
In this episode of The Brussels Beat, Javier Espinoza speaks with Teresa Ribera, the EU commissioner in charge of competition policy, about what to expect in the European Commission’s revamped merger guidelines and tensions with the U.S. over the bloc’s digital rules. They discuss the commission’s planned approach to evaluating deals, which Ribera said will consider economic benefits of a merger but maintain a high standard of proof. They also explore: The debate over whether lax merger control or market fragmentation is getting in the way of European “champions” Why Donald Trump might personally want to get behind the EU’s Digital Markets Act The limits of the commission’s planned “dialogue” with the U.S. on the bloc’s digital rules
#15
April 8 · 37 min
French Competition Chief Says EU States Undermine Draghi’s Agenda
In this episode of The Brussels Beat, Javier Espinoza speaks with Benoît Cœuré, president of France’s competition authority, about growing tensions between EU ambitions for European companies to scale up and member states’ resistance to regulatory harmonization. They discuss why cross-border consolidation in sectors like telecoms, energy and finance remains limited despite calls from the Draghi report. They also explore: • What national antitrust enforcers can—and can’t—do to respond to the global energy crisis stemming from the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran • The upcoming overhaul of EU merger guidelines and how efficiency arguments may be treated • His authority’s work policing no-poach agreements and studying the rapidly evolving market for AI chatbots
#14
March 25 · 53 min
Booking.com CEO welcomes more regulatory scrutiny of OpenAI and Google
In this episode, The Capitol Forum's Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza sits down with Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel to pull back the curtain on the shifting landscape of global travel. In this conversation they discuss: The strategic impact of the EU’s Digital Markets Act and what "gatekeeper" status actually means for the platform's bottom line. How AI is transitioning from a buzzword to a tool that creates a frictionless, "Connected Trip" for millions of users. The delicate balance of maintaining dominance while fostering a fair ecosystem for small hotels and independent operators.
#13
February 25 · 47 min
Spain's Competition Chief Backs EU Social Media Bans
The head of Spain's competition watchdog, Cani Fernández, sees room for national social media bans in the European Union. In an interview with The Capitol Forum, Fernandez who is president of the National Commission for Markets and Competition, told Europe Executive Editor that while the European Digital Services Act is strong, there is also "a margin of maneuver" for individual member states to go farther, including enacting national social media bans for minors. To learn more about The Capitol Forum, follow us on Bluesky and Linkedin.
#12
Dec 16, 2025 · 29 min
Europe’s Top Banker Says Europe Needs to Step Up to Compete with American A.I.
Why is the European tech sector struggling compared to the Chinese and American ones? Nadia Calvino, the influential president of the European Investment Bank, has a bold plan to invest heavily in computing infrastructure to give Europe a competitive edge in the A.I. race. In this exclusive interview with Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza the two discuss: The European Investment Bank’s plan to back and finance five A.I. “gigafactories” to provide European start ups with access to high capacity computing power. Calvino’s vision for the European Investment Bank to create larger capital markets to compete with American venture capital. How the Ukraine war and trade tensions with the U.S. are impacting Calvino’s work at the EIB.
#11
Oct 28, 2025 · 42 min
Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, Portugal's Competition Chief, on the Balancing Act Between Deterrence and Enforcement
Competition policy is not a silver bullet, according to Portugal's competition chief Nuno Cunha Rodrigues. In this interview with The Capitol Forum's Javier Espinoza, Rodrigues outlines why the EU and Portugal need a more robust political and regulatory regime to really see European markets thrive. In this conversation they discuss: Rodrigues' efforts to encourage consumer mobility in the banking, rail and energy sectors. His desire for a more comprehensive and integrated European banking and currency policy The EU's need to have a stronger political voice amongst member states to build unified competition and regulatory policies. 🔗 Subscribe to The Capitol Forum for more interviews and analysis.
#10
Oct 2, 2025 · 26 min
Eva Maydell on the European Union’s Push for Tech Sovereignty
Can the European Union create a coalition to build a competitive tech sector? In today’s episode of Brussels Beat Javier Espinoza sits down with Member of European Parliament Eva Maydell to discuss the E.U. and European Commission’s efforts to implement simplification in the tech sector. In this conversation they talk about: The political divisions that need to be overcome for the European Parliament to create a stronger regulatory environment. The E.U.’s efforts to make the European tech industry more competitive with the United States’ and China’s. Why Maydell is skeptical of a global artificial intelligence arms race, and the need to create an A.I. framework that gives the E.U. a competitive edge. 🔗 Subscribe to The Capitol Forum for more interviews and analysis.
#8
Aug 7, 2025 · 54 min
Europe’s Stalled Breakup: The Future of Google Adtech
Is Google’s ad tech empire too powerful to regulate—or just powerful enough to break up? In this wide-ranging interview, Javier Espinoza (Europe Executive Editor at The Capitol Forum) speaks with Damien Geradin, one of the lead lawyers behind the EC’s ad tech antitrust case against Google. They discuss: How the case began with a single publisher complaint Why self-preferencing across the ad tech stack is a competition issue The failure of behavioral remedies in France The political and legal implications of structural separation What the U.S. DOJ case means for Europe’s timing Whether the DMA is delivering on its promises This conversation is essential viewing for anyone following Big Tech regulation, EU competition law, and digital market enforcement. 🔗 Subscribe to The Capitol Forum for more interviews and analysis
#7
Aug 1, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Olivier Guersent: Inside the EU’s Antitrust Machine and the Future of European Power
In a wide-ranging conversation, Olivier Guersent—former Director-General for Competition at the European Commission—joins Javier Espinoza, Europe Executive Editor at The Capitol Forum and host of The Brussels Beat, to reflect on decades of leadership in EU public policy. Together, they explore: Guersent’s return to public life following a near-fatal accident in 2010 His role in forging the EU’s banking union and navigating multiple financial crises The challenges and unfinished business of enforcing the Digital Markets Act Why Europe must rethink its approach to constant new legislation And what it would take for the EU to become a true strategic power—not just a regulatory one Guersent also shares what policymakers often misunderstand about Big Tech, mergers, and industrial policy—and explains why crisis remains the EU’s default driver of reform.
#2
Jul 21, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Martijn Snoep on Strengthening Antitrust in Europe
This week, Javier Espinoza, Europe Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, speaks with Martijn Snoep, head of the Dutch Competition Authority, about the evolving landscape of antitrust enforcement in Europe. Snoep emphasizes the need for a value-based competition policy over transactional deal-making and highlights the challenges of regulating Big Tech. While he sees Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) as a step forward, he stresses that strong enforcement is essential to curb monopolistic practices. He also advocates for new regulatory tools to address market concentration, particularly in areas where traditional antitrust measures fall short—such as private equity-driven acquisitions. Additionally, he warns against the politicization of competition law, rejects claims that Europe's regulatory actions stem from a lack of domestic tech giants, and calls for more proactive, collaborative enforcement across EU member states. Despite challenges in digital and energy transitions, Snoep remains optimistic about Europe’s ability to enhance its competitive position through innovation, regulatory modernization, and deeper economic integration.
#1
Jul 21, 2025 · 56 min
Vestager Pushes Back Against Calls to Ease EU Merger Rules
An exclusive interview with Margrethe Vestager, the former EU Antitrust Chief addressed concerns about a potential shift in U.S.- EU relations with the election of President Donald Trump. The interview is the first of a regular podcast hosted by Capitol Forum’s new Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza that will include some of the biggest names in European policy. Mr. Espinoza, a leading voice in Brussels regulatory coverage, recently joined Capitol Forum after nearly a decade at the Financial Times.
#5
Jul 21, 2025 · 55 min
Former PM of Italy Enrico Letta on Europe’s Future
In this episode of The Brussels Beat, EU Executive Editor Javier Espinoza sits down with Enrico Letta—former Italian Prime Minister and author of the landmark report on the future of the Single Market—for a sweeping discussion on Europe's path forward. Letta reflects on his 60-city listening tour, his diagnosis of EU fragmentation, and concrete proposals to restore Europe’s competitiveness. Topics include: -Why Europe’s fragmented market is fueling decline -Creating true EU champions in telecom, defense, and tech -How to fix Europe's financial system with a "Savings and Investments Union" -The cultural shift needed to embrace integration -And why the Single Market is the beating heart of the European project Letta also shares behind-the-scenes moments from his report writing journey and makes the case for pragmatism, not nostalgia, in the face of global challenges from Trump to China.
#6
Jul 21, 2025 · 41 min
Europe’s Climate + Competition Chief on Green Industry, Big Tech, and Leadership
In this exclusive interview, Capitol Forum’s Javier Espinoza sits down with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, to talk climate ambition, competition policy, and the future of Europe’s green industrial strategy. Named one of TIME's most influential people of 2025, Ribera is tasked with driving the EU’s clean energy transition and enforcing fair competition—including landmark efforts to rein in Big Tech through the Digital Markets Act. We cover: Her reflections after six months in office Balancing green transition with industrial competitiveness Standing up to greenwashing and U.S. pressure on EU tech regulation What leadership looks like in a fracturing geopolitical moment Don’t miss this wide-ranging and timely conversation on the future of Europe’s economic and environmental model.
#4
Jul 21, 2025 · 31 min
Digital Power, European Style: Thierry Breton on the EU’s Strategy for Taming Tech
As the European Union imposes its first fines under the landmark Digital Markets Act, former Commissioner Thierry Breton joins The Brussels Beat for his first Brussels interview since leaving office. Far from declaring victory, Breton calls the penalties against Apple and Meta “regrettable”—a signal not of enforcement success, but of corporate failure. In this episode, we unpack why Europe’s goal was dialogue, not punishment; how soft power still underpins Brussels’ regulatory strategy; and what’s next for Google, TikTok, and the future of global tech governance. Tune in for a sharp conversation about rules, resistance, and the recalibration of power in the digital age.
#3
Jul 21, 2025 · 32 min
Europe’s Digital Awakening: Andreas Schwab on Brussels Leading in an Era of Global Turbulence
As transatlantic tensions rise and global markets fracture under the weight of tariffs and techno-nationalism, Europe finds itself at a crossroads. In this wide-ranging conversation, Andreas Schwab, senior MEP and architect of the Digital Markets Act, reflects on the EU’s strategic imperative: to fortify its internal market, enforce tech regulation, and restore global relevance in the face of American unpredictability. From Trump-era trade disruptions to the structural challenges of building a sovereign digital ecosystem, this episode offers a candid look at Europe’s regulatory ambitions—and its limitations. Can Brussels remain the global standard-setter, or is it time to rethink the Brussels Effect? 🔍 Topics explored: Europe’s slow but deliberate push for digital sovereignty The Digital Markets Act and the future of tech competition Transatlantic frictions and the risks of economic decoupling Whether globalization is, in fact, over Why internal EU reform—not new alliances—may be the bloc’s greatest challenge 🎙️ Hosted by Javier Espinoza Europe Executive Editor at The Capitol Forum. 📍 Guest: Andreas Schwab, MEP and long-time digital policy strategist.

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