Wouter Wils: Looking back at his experience as Hearing Officer for competition proceedings at the European Commission*

You became Hearing Officer for competition proceedings at the European Commission in 2010. The following year, Decision 2011/695/EU of the President of the European Commission redefined and enlarged the function and terms of reference of the Hearing Officer. These new terms of reference have now been in force for more than ten years. You were also Hearing Officer for more than ten years, until you stepped down in 2021. How has the role of the Hearing Officer evolved over time? Has it achieved its purpose? The role of the Hearing Officer for competition proceedings at the European Commission has indeed already a long history. The role was created by the European Commission in 1982 and initially consisted only of chairing the oral hearing in antitrust proceedings and reporting to the