CLA Bruges edition
College of Europe,
28 – 30 October 2026
The 9th Edition of the Consumer Leadership Academy (CLA) will take place from October 28 to 30, 2026, at the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium, under the title: ‘Enforcing consumer rights for a fairer market‘.
Programme
Securing a fairer market in the algorithmic age requires a powerful combination of public oversight and active advocacy. The 9th Edition of the Consumer Leadership Academy (CLA) in Bruges tackles the realities of enforcement in digital markets, bridging the gap between public framework updates, such as the revision of the CPC Regulation, and the power of private enforcement. From exploring how the upcoming Digital Fairness Act will enable the actionability of new consumer rights to navigating platform transparency under the DSA and utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution, this edition equips consumer organizations with the practical strategies needed to combat digital manipulation and guarantee systemic market accountability.
28 – 30 October 2026
DAY 1 | Consumer Policy in a Rapidly Changing Digital World
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01// WELCOME ADDRESS
Welcome remarks
– Claire Lawrence, Co-Director, Executive Education, Training & Projects Office, CoEIntroduction to CEP and Consumer Leadership Academy
– Marco Scialdone, Director, Consumer Empowerment Project
– Sebastian Sposito, Public Affairs Manager for Europe, Google -
02// The Future of Consumer Policy in Europe | Keynote Speech
– Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou, HoU at the Consumer Law and Marketing Unit, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers European Commission
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03Decentralised Enforcement in Digital Platform Regulation: A Close Look at the DMA, the DSA, the AI Act and the P2B Regulation
– Alba Ribera Martinez, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Internet Law, VU Amsterdam
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04// Gaming the System? Consumer Protection in Online Games and Virtual Worlds
– Alberto De Franceschi, Professor of Private Law, Digital Law and Environmental Sustainability, University of Ferrara and KU Leuven
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05// Supporting Simplification and Effective Enforcement: Where the DFA Can (and Can’t) Help
– Miglė Alenčikaitė, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, Google
DAY 2 | Enforcement in Digital Markets and E-Commerce
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01// Keynote Speech: Digital Services Act and Enforcement Perspectives
– Filippo Bagni, Legal Officer, Digital Services Act Enforcement Team, European Commission
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02// The Role of ADR in Enforcing Digital Rights under the DSA
– Sophie Walter, European Public Affairs & Communications Lead, Appeals Centre Europe
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03// Class Actions in Europe: Collective Redress as an Enforcement Tool
– Marco Scialdone, Head of Litigation & Academic Outreach, Euroconsumers
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04// Behind the scenes of our experience with a CPC coordinated action
– Chloé Ponsart, Content & Consumer Protection Legal Counsel, Google
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05// Tech as an enforcement ally
– Catalina Goanta, Associate Professor in Private Law and Technology, University of Utrecht
DAY 3 | Future-Proofing Consumer Law
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01// Enforcement in an AI-Driven Economy
– Vincenzo Tiani and Andreea Șerban, EU Senior Policy Counsel and Policy Counsel, Future of Privacy Forum
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02// Enforcement for sustainable consumption and Q&A Session
– Evelyne Terryn, Full Professor of Law and Vice Rector, KU Leuven
– Bert Keirsbilck, Professor of EU Law and Economic Law, KU Leuven
Faculty
Our speakers
