We are pleased to forward to you an invitation from the European Australian Business Council to an important event with the European Commissioner for Competition Policy. The EABC is pleased to offer you the members' rate for the event, should you indicate that you have responded courtesy of the advice from the EU Centre at RMIT.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards,

Bruce

Corporate Luncheon & Policy Forum with the Vice President of the European Commission

Wednesday 20 March 2013, Melbourne at 12.00 to 3.00pm

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto

On behalf of the European Australian Business Council (EABC) and in association with the Australia and New Zealand School of Government I am pleased to extend an invitation to a special event on the occasion of a visit to Australia by the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Competition Policy, Joaquin Almunia.

Vice President Almunia is one of the European Union’s most senior political leaders, with responsibility for competition policy across the 27 member states of the European Union - the world’s largest market larger with over 500 million consumers.

The European Commission has made rulings on some of the largest, and most controversial, merger, anti-trust and state aid cases - involving global giants Microsoft and Google, Arcelor-Mittal, and the recent proposed Ryanair-Aerlingus merger. 

The Vice President is also formerly the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs for the European Union and will also comment on the European institutional response to the global financial crisis - including the co-ordination of fiscal policy, banking union and other measures. He is a former Spanish government minister and leader of the opposition, and founder of the progressive think-tank Laboratorio de Alternativas.

Commissioner Almunia will be joined by a leading panel of Australian speakers on the broad theme of ’Australia and Europe: Competitiveness and Competition Policy’, with the programme including:

• Vice President Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the European Commission and  Commissioner for Competition Policy
• The Hon John Brumby, Chairman, COAG Reform Council
• The Hon Warwick Smith AM, Chairman, ANZ Banking Group (NSW & ACT)
• Andrew Reeves, Chairman, Australian Energy Regulator

The forum will be chaired by Professor Allan Fels AO on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

There will be a limited number of seats available for our members, supporters and other guests at this special event. We would be delighted to welcome representatives and guests of your organisation to participate in the event at our Member’s rate (please see booking form attached)

To rsvp or for any further information please contact Eve Parkhimovich at [email protected] or telephone (02) 8272 0600.

I hope you will be able to join us.

JASON COLLINS
Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +61 2 8272 0606
Mob: +61 458 286 686
Email: [email protected]