ASEAN and EU Hold First-Ever Heads of Competition Agencies Roundtable in Manila
ASEAN and EU competition authorities convened their first-ever Heads of Agencies Roundtable in Manila on 5 May 2026, co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Santisouk Phounesavath, Chair of the ASEAN Heads of Competition Agencies (AHCA), and Mr. Guillaume Loriot of the European Commission's DG COMP.
Key Discussion Topics
Discussions focused on shared challenges in a rapidly changing economic environment, including digitalisation, market concentration, and the need for agile, high-performing competition agencies. Participants also emphasised the importance of ensuring open and competitive digital markets for MSMEs, and the growing need for regional cooperation as anti-competitive practices increasingly cross borders.
Both sides expressed strong interest in expanding collaboration through capacity building, technical exchanges, and closer coordination on digital and cross-border cases.
Five Areas of Future Cooperation
The AHCA Chair presented five preliminary personal views on future cooperation (not yet collectively agreed by ASEAN Member States):
Deeper collaboration on digital markets, platform regulation, data, and AI
Stronger cross-border enforcement cooperation on mergers, cartels, and information sharing
EU support for ASEAN as it prepares to implement the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition
Joint work on sustainability and competition policy
Exploring ways to formalise the Roundtable as a regular ASEAN-EU platform
In closing, H.E. Mr. Santisouk Phounesavath reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the EU as the region's competition landscape continues to evolve. Mr. Guillaume Loriot conveyed the EU's strong support for continued partnership with ASEAN competition authorities.
