Zahouani SAADAOUI
UE DG TAXUD
Mr. Zahouani SAADAOUI is a European expert in information systems management. He worked in the private sector for about ten years as a software developer and solutions architect, notably at the European headquarters of Procter & Gamble, before joining the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) of the European Commission as the development manager for the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS). Over the past ten years, Zahouani has dedicated himself to digital customs initiatives aimed at facilitating trade. With his team, he now focuses on the policy and legal developments of the European Single Window environment for customs, as well as maintaining the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan for electronic Customs systems. His portfolio of activities includes digitalization in the field of proof of origin, import and export certificates for cultural goods. He is also a member of the Innovation@TAXUD team, particularly focusing on the use of new technologies such as Blockchain and artificial intelligence for supply chain management.
Elena SUAREZ
BUSINESSEUROPE
Elena Suárez is Senior Adviser at the International Relations Department of BusinessEurope since March 2021. Prior to joining BusinessEurope she worked for Cefic as trade policy manager. Before that she worked for over six years as policy officer at the European Commission DG Trade in the unit of market access, industry and energy, as well as in DG Devco, in the unit of sustainable management of natural resources. She also worked for Accenture early in her career. She holds a Master of Science in development management from the London School of Economics and a double Bachelor's degree in law and business management from the Complutense University of Madrid. Elena is Spanish and speaks English and French fluently, and has an intermediate level of German.
Charlotte MERLIER
UE DG TAXUD
Charlotte Merlier is Deputy Head of Unit A2 - Customs Legislation at the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD) of the European Commission, with responsibility for the reform of the customs union presented in May 2023. Before joining the European Commission in 2020, Charlotte Merlier worked for 10 years at the French DGDDI, notably in the Legal Affairs Office and the Tariff and Trade Policy Office.
Dr. Lothar HARINGS
EFA
Dr Lothar Harings is attorney and partner at GvW Graf von Westphalen. He heads the firm’s Green Trade team, focussing on all trade-related sustainability matters like the German Supply Chain Act, The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the EU Deforestation Regulation and the upcoming Forced Labour Regulation. Until 2022, Dr. Harings was managing director of Hamburger Zollakademie (“Hamburg Customs Academy”), an institution for executive education in trade related matters which he had founded in 2012. Besides Green Trade, Dr. Harings specialises in EU law with a particular focus on sanctions and export control law. Dr. Harings regularly represents clients before the European Commission and the European Court of Justice. Dr. Harings is chairman of the European Forum for External Trade (EFA), the partner organisation of ODASCE. He regularly publishes on EU trade law, and has repeatedly been listed as a leading name in EU Customs Law and Export Control Law as well as a recommended attorney for foreign trade in Germany and the EU. Dr Harings speaks German and English. He studied at the universities of Freiburg and Heidelberg.