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.
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.
