EACCNY cordially invites you for a small, closed-door roundtable to discuss issues pertinent to the Commissioner's portfolio, particularly privacy/data flows and consumer protection, along with EU initiatives such as EU AI Act, the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, countering disinformation, and the enhancement of criminal justice cooperation as it relates to market competitiveness.



GUEST OF HONOR:



Michael McGrath is the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, a role he assumed in December 2024. Previously he served as Ireland's Minister for Finance (2022–2024) and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2020–2022). As EU Commissioner his mandate focuses on upholding the rule of law, protecting democratic systems, ensuring consumer rights, and strengthening judicial cooperation.

In addition to that, he was appointed by President von der Leyen to chair the Commission Project Group on Democracy and acts as a member of project groups focused on Artificial Intelligence, Startups and Scaleups, and European internal Security.

Commissioner McGrath being in charge of justice and consumer protection, his task is to ensure that rights are defended, corruption is punished, and contracts are enforced. Among others he is responsible for:
• leading the work to build an EU-wide legal status, taking the form of a 28th regime, to allow companies to benefit from a simpler and harmonized set of rules;
• preparing the next Consumer Agenda 2025-2030, proposing actions to protect consumers in the single market when buying goods or services and implementing product safety policies;
• developing a Digital Fairness Act to tackle unethical techniques and commercial practices, especially when consumer vulnerabilities are exploited for commercial purposes;
• ensuring full enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation while checking it stays up to date, and promoting trusted data flows with international partners.

 

TIME:
8:45 – 9:00 PM Arrival & Networking | 9:00 – 10:00 AM Round-table Discussion

 

REGISTRATION:
This is an invitation-only event, address will be sent to invited guests.