CELIS NOW KICK-OFF EVENT (2023)
The Age of Open Strategic Autonomy
11-13 May 2023
On-site | Berlin
Hosted by Jonas Fechter and Janosch Wiesenthal
CELIS NOW
CELIS NOW is the CELIS Institute's most ambitious initiative to promote young talents with a focus on the law and practice of economic warfare.
In response to global power shifts, the European Union has recently added a set of geo-economic instruments, such as the FDI Screening Regulation, the Regulation on Distortive Foreign Subsidies, the new Dual-Use Regulation, and the Anti-Coercion Instrument, to its toolbox for “economic warfare”.
In light with the CELIS Institute’s mission to promote better regulation of foreign investments in the context of security, public order, and competitiveness; and along with its commitment to the promotion of researchers and practitioners at the early stages of their career, the Institute's Deputy Assistant Directors created an early-career scholars’ and practitioners’ network on the law and practice of economic warfare (CELIS NOW) .
CELIS NOW is designed for early-career professionals with a focus on the emerging law of economic warfare within the broader fields of European and international trade and investment law. The network provides its members with the unique opportunities to exchange ideas and to engage with the growing community of scholars and practitioners interested in the law of economic warfare and active in the broader field of trade and investment law.
The network consists of currently around 15 accomplished young researchers and practitioners from various disciplines. It serves its members as a forum to think outside the box and engage across disciplines. In meetings, members have the chance to discuss their latest ideas and research among peers. Members will also have a unique opportunity to engage with accomplished researchers and practitioners in the field.
You are interested in becoming part of our initiative? You think that CELIS NOW could be a good fit for you or your friends? This is how you become part of the network:
Although, participation is on invitation only basis, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, as well as accomplished early-career practitioners with an interest in the field of economic warfare are welcome to express their interest. The expression of interest should include a short description of your current research or work focus (no longer than two pages) and your motivation for joining CELIS NOW, as well as a CV. Please submit your supporting documents by mail to: CELIS-NOW@celis.institute
With geopolitical forces shifting in the world, the European Union – once a haven of economic liberalism – reacted by adapting its economic strategy. It has recently introduced several policy instruments designed to support geo-economic objectives in a more contested world.
The conference will focus on the European Unions toolbox within the emerging doctrine of “Open Strategic Autonomy” and discuss its implications for trade and investment law in a broader sense. In particular, investment screening mechanisms and new geo-economic tools, such as the Anti-Coercion Instrument and the Foreign Subsidies Regulation will be discussed.
Participation in the conference is by invitation only, with preference for members of the network.
AGENDA
27 APRIL 2023
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
BLOMSTEIN at Soho House Berlin
Torstraße 1, 10119 Berlin
CONFERENCE OPENING
14.00 – 14.30 CEST Opening Remarks
by Jonas Fechter (University of Münster) and Janosch Wiesenthal (University of Passau)
14.30 – 15.00 CEST Opening Keynote Address
by David Krappitz and Friederike Wenkel (Investment Screening Division, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action)
15.00 – 15.30 CEST First Experiences with the Cooperation Mechanism under the FDI Screening Regulation
by Célia Chausse (Deputy Head of Department, Investment Screening Division of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economy and Labour)
15.30 – 16.00 CEST Networking and Refreshment Break
16.00 – 17.30 CEST Session I: The Doctrine of Open Strategic Autonomy – A Closer Look at the Characteristics and Relations
Chair: Assistant Prof. Dr. Lena Hornkohl (University of Vienna)
Open Strategic Autonomy as the Economic Security Doctrine of the EU
Speaker: Wolf Zwartkruis (University of Leiden)
The defensive and proactive dimensions of open strategic autonomy: Towards strengthened EU public economic intervention?
Speaker: Enrico Tinti (University of Bologna)
The role of the EU and Member States in pursuing Open Strategic Autonomy
Speaker: Thijs De Cuyper (University of Leuven)
The 'Strategy' of an 'Open Economy': Doctrinal Innovation v. Fastidious Protectionism
Speaker: Argha Kumar Jena (UNINETTUNO University Rome)
Red flags and anti-corruption due diligence in investment arbitration and beyond
Speaker: Aleksander Kalisz (King’s College London)
EVENING PROGRAM
18.00 CEST Drinks Reception and Barbecue at Blomstein (Rooftop Terrace)
Oranienburger Straße 66, 10117 Berlin courtesy of BLOMSTEIN
FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER
Potsdamer Platz 1, 10785 Berlin
9.00 – 9.10 CEST A Message from the CELIS Institute's Board of Directors
Speakers: Jens Hillebrand Pohl (CELIS Institute),
Assistant Prof. Dr. Lena Hornkohl (University of Vienna) and
Prof. Dr. Steffen Hindelang (CELIS Institute)
9.10 – 10.30 CEST Session II: Foreign Investment Screening – Current Trends and Perspectives
Chair: Prof. Dr. Steffen Hindelang (CELIS Institute)
Gun Jumping” and Foreign Investment Control – Terra incognita or Merger Control 2.0?
Speakers: Sophie Bohnert (Wirtchaftsuniversität Wien) and
Daniel Peter Schmidt (Wirtchaftsuniversität Wien)
FDI regimes and geo-political challenges beyond the European Union: Overview, Perspectives & Future Trends of national(?) security concerns
Speaker: Federica Marconi (Uniroma 2)
Open Strategic Autonomy, Foreign Investment Security & Europe’s Periphery
Speaker: Manu Misra (Getulio Vargas Foundation)
TBD
Speaker: Janosch Wiesenthal (University of Passau)
10.30 – 11.00 CEST Networking and Refreshment Break
11:00 – 12:30 CEST Session III: The Toolbox of Foreign Trade – A practical Perspective
Chair: Jonas Fechter (University of Münster)
M&A Transactions, FDI Screening and the challenges of timing and information collection
Speaker: Stephan Müller (Oppenhoff)
Legal Redress in Investment Screening Procedures [working title]
Speaker: Dr. Uwe Salaschek (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
National Security Concerns Related to Foreign Investment in Critical Infrastructures, as Exemplified by the Transport Sector
Speaker: Dr. Leonhard von Rummel (BLOMSTEIN)
Speaker: Pierre Voegeli (Investment Screening Division of the French Ministry for Finance, Economy and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty)
12.45 – 13.45 CEST Lunch at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
courtesy of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
14:00 – 15:30 CEST Session IV: Open Strategic Autonomy – What else than FDI Screening?
Chair: Merit Olthoff (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
The EU’s open strategic autonomy: what role for EU sanctions law?
Speaker: Georgia Tzifa (Wilmer Hale Brussels)
The Foreign Subsidies Regulation – An instrument to create a resilient economy or protectionism?
Speaker: Ramona Ader (BLOMSTEIN)
Concordia discors? A preliminary assessment of the coherence between the Foreign Subsidies Regulation and Subsidization in Europe
Speaker: Pierfrancesco Mattiolo (University of Antwerp)
The Anti-Coercion-Instrument – A new chapter for EU foreign policy?
Speaker: Jonas Fechter (University of Münster)
15.30 – 16.00 CEST Networking and Refreshment Break
16.00 – 17.30 CEST Session V: Open Strategic Autonomy in the Context of International Law
Chair: Janosch Wiesenthal (University of Passau)
Foreign Direct Investment Screening and the Notion of Security
Speaker: Kilian Wagner (University of Vienna)
Policization of the 5G Rollout: What Role for International Economic Law
Speaker: Dr. Iryna Bogdanova (World Trade Institute)
What role can FDI screening assume within the Open Strategic Autonomy Agenda?
Speaker: Andrea Gemmi (Bonelli Erede Lombardi Pappalardo Law Firm)
EVENING PROGRAM
18.00 – 19.30 CEST Dinner at TBD
courtesy of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
20.00 CEST Closing Remarks
by Jonas Fechter (University of Münster) and
Janosch Wiesenthal (University of Passau)
Brandenburger Tor, Pariser Platz
BERLIN PROGRAM
11.00 – 13.00 CEST Walking Tour – City Sights of Berlin
courtesy of Jonas Fechter and Janosch Wiesenthal
Draft Programme
27 APRIL 2023
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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