CEP Symposium

From Protection to Empowerment

• 01
  08:45 – 09:20 | Welcome Breakfast & CEP Impact Gallery

  Participants are welcomed through an informal breakfast and immersive gallery showcasing CEP’s key achievements.

• 02
  09:20 – 09:30 | Welcome & Opening Remarks

  Master of Ceremonies: Kait Bolongaro (On-Stage Host)

  – Welcome Video: “CEP – 5 Years Later”
  Introductory screening featuring opening remarks from Antonio Balhanas (CEO, Euroconsumers) and Debbie Weinstein (President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Google), reflecting on five years of multi-stakeholder dialogue, key milestones, and the future vision of consumer empowerment.

• 03
  09:30 – 10:00 | High-Level Kick-Off Conversation – Digital Fairness and the Next Phase of Consumer Empowerment

  The opening sequence will focus on the Digital Fairness Act and its role in shaping the next phase of EU consumer policy.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Alex Agius Saliba, MEP
  – Martins Prieditis, Deputy Head of Unit Consumer Law, DG JUST
  – Natascha Gerlach, Director for Privacy and Data Policy, CIPL

• 04
  10:00 – 10:20 | CEP in Action: My Data is Mine Spotlight

  A fireside chat with past award winners on how their research shaped the field and how the data protection landscape continues to evolve.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Tea Mustac, MDIM Winner 2024
  – Pratiksha Ashok, MDIM Winner 2025

  Moderated by Marco Scialdone, CEP Director

• 05
  10:20 – 11:00 | Panel – From Rules to Reality, DMA Implementation for Consumers

  This first panel will take stock of the implementation of the Digital Markets Act, with a specific focus on their concrete impact for consumers.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Stéphanie Yon Courtin, MEP
  – Luca Aguzzoni, Head of Sector, DMA team DG CNECT
  – Marco Pierani, Director Corporate Affairs & Public Relations, Euroconsumers
  – Bartlomiej Telejko, Head – EU Data Governance, Competition, Cybersecurity policy team, Google

  Moderated By Brandy Miller, Editorial Director, The Watcher Post EU

• 06
  11:00 – 11:25 | Coffee Break
• 07
  11:25 – 11:40 | CEP in Action: CLA Alumni Conversation

  A fireside chat featuring past Consumer Leadership Academy participants sharing real-world impact, key lessons, and how they apply CLA insights to advance consumer rights.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Marco Bani, Policy officer, Senate of the Republic of Italy
  – Joanna Strycharz, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam

  Moderated by Marco Scialdone, CEP Director

• 08
  11:40 – 12:15 | Panel – AI on the Consumer’s Side, Can AI Agents Strengthen Consumer Agency?

  The second panel will look ahead to the next wave of digital consumer policy by exploring the role of AI agents and AI-enabled tools in strengthening consumer agency.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Brando Benifei, MEP
  – Antonio Balhanas, CEO, Euroconsumers

• 09
  12:15 – 12:35 | CEP in Action: Scholarship, Consumer Digital Empowerment Index and Kids Leadership Academy

  A spotlight on the CEP Scholarship initiative empowering future consumer advocates, followed by a snapshot of the latest Consumer Digital Empowerment Index (CDEI)—featuring key insights on digital readiness and consumer attitudes toward AI.  Plus a highlight video from the latest Kids Leadership Academy.

  Confirmed speakers:

  – Vincenzo Tiani, Programme & Dissemination Coordinator, VUB
  – Marco Anelli, Group Manager Statistical Surveys, Euroconsumers

  Moderated by Marco Scialdone, CEP Director

• 010
  12:35 – 12:40 | Closing Reflections

  Closing remarks:

  – Marco Scialdone, CEP Director
  – Sebastian Sposito, Public Affairs Manager for Europe at Google

   

• 011
  12:40 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch

  Informal networking lunch