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With the economic crisis pushing substantial rethinks, competition policy in both the EU and the US is set to take new directions. What changes should we expect from the new administration in Washington and the new EU-level appointments in Brussels? What are the current challenges to be addressed, and what possible solutions may be offered by a transatlantic exchange of best practices? Project Against this background, Friends of Europe and the Atlantic Council of the United States have launched a new work programme entitled “New trends in transatlantic competition policy”, which aims to associate key stakeholders for a frank and authoritative debate on the future direction of competition policy in the EU and the US. The project will consist of two high-level roundtable debates, allowing for lively and interactive discussion, and void of static speeches. The first roundtable, held at the Concert Noble in Brussels on 10 June 2010, will be organised by Friends of Europe, and will be followed by a report summarising the debate. The second roundtable, in autumn 2010 in Washington, D.C., will be organised by the Atlantic Council. The two roundtables will also be followed by an issue brief detailing the outcomes of the two debates and presenting key recommendations for EU and US competition policymakers. Roundtable June 10, 2010 The first of the roundtables was held on Thursday, 10 June 2010 at the Concert Noble Hall in Brussels and included the participation of European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Competition Joaquín Almunia and Commissioner of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) J. Thomas Rosch. This roundtable, co-organised by Friends of Europe, the Atlantic Council of the United States, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and the Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace (ICOMP), brought together a select group of 50 high-level EU and US competition law experts, including policymakers, lawyers, business leaders and academics. Some 80 observers – including members of the international press – also attended. Please refer to the programme for futher information.