23/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - ICOMP (an international initiative for a competitive online marketplace, sponsored by Microsoft), is organising a conference in Brussels on Monday 27 April on the link between privacy and competition in the online marketplace. ICOMP Director Auke Haagsma of the Netherlands, who is opposed to a regulatory solution but who supports transparency and respect of privacy on the internet, will seek to answer the question - How can personal data be protected on the internet without excessive regulation that would penalise competition in online trade? Other speakers will include Sophia in't Veld (ALDE, NL), MEP, and Robert Madelin, who is Director General for health and consumer protection within the European Commission. For further information: conference@i-comp.org. (Y.P./transl.jl)