Agenda

09:00 – 09:40

Welcome Coffee and Registration

09:40 – 09:45

Welcome and Introduction

09:45 – 10:00

Opening Speech

Jörgen Bödmar , President, EMOTA

10:00 – 10:15

Keynote Speech

Minister Alexander de Croo , Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services

10:15 – 11:30

Panel Discussion: European E-Commerce in the Global Context

This opening session will provide an analysis on the state of e-commerce in Europe and around the globe, looking at both market and regulatory trends.

How are international e-commerce markets evolving? What trends can be identified in other regions of the world and what can Europe learn from these? What key issues need to be addressed to ensure that e-commerce continues to prosper? How are rapid advances in technology and the use of data defining the future of e-commerce? How will trends such as hyperconnectivity, m-commerce, IoT, pre-tail and the sharing economy reshape the retail sector and allow merchants to capitalize on the opportunities offered by e-commerce?

Moderator: Paul Adamson , Chairman, Forum Europe

Gerard de Graaf , Director, Digital Economy & Coordination , DG CONNECT
Jörgen Bödmar , President, EMOTA
Michael O'Grady , Serving Market Insight Professionals, Forrester Research
Gianpiero Lotito , Founder & CEO, FacilityLive
Emre Berk , Legal and Digital Identity Consultant , e-Berk Legal

11:30 – 11:45

Morning Coffee Break

11:45 – 13:00

Panel Discussion: Profiling and Data Privacy

Data is at the heart of the digital revolution, representing an unlimited source of insight, innovation and competitive advantage for organisations that can harness it properly. The use and analysis of consumers data has already transformed the e-commerce sector significantly by providing merchants with a thorough understanding of customers behaviours however the collection, storage, analysis and use of data for profiling purposes present many challenges with respect to privacy rights.

How can organisations use data to improve their services and customer experience, through personalised and targeted services without harming consumer’s interests? What are e-commerce businesses doing to improve the provision of their services while restoring consumer’s confidence with regards to the privacy of their data? How can it be ensured that the new set of data protection rules in Europe does not restrict data processing and innovation, restrain consumers from accessing tailored offers, or stop SMEs from maximizing the opportunities offered by the digital economy but, instead, encourage the future development of e-commerce? How can it be ensured that principles such as the purpose limitation of data and data minimisation are respected by e-retailers and platforms?

Moderator: Magnus Franklin , Chief Correspondent, MLex ITM

Matthew Heitmann , Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Canyon Bicycles GmbH
David Martin , Senior Legal Officer, BEUC
Matei Psatta , Co-Founder, The Pole Society
Chris Sherwood , Head of Public Policy, Allegro Group
Fabio Polverino , Legal Officer, EDPS

13:15 – 14:15

Lunch

14:15 – 14:40

Keynote Speeches

Craig Arnold , Vice President Business Development, UPS Europe

14:40 – 16:00

Panel Discussion: Achieving a fit-for-purpose delivery sector

Efficient cross-border postal services are one of the main elements identified for the successful development of e-commerce in Europe and indeed for the completion of the digital single market. As consumers’ and online merchants’ expectations rise, concerns about high prices, the interoperability of postal operators and a lack of convenient delivery features continue to impede e-commerce growth, particularly cross border.

Following the public consultation on cross-border parcel delivery that took place in Summer 2015, this session will explore further the possible areas for improvement for cross-border delivery services.

What do customers expect from cross-border logistic/delivery services today and how does this affect their purchase habits? How is the European delivery sector addressing increasing consumers expectations and demands and what new business models have emerged?

As the delivery aspect of online purchase will become increasingly critical to the sustainability of the commercial activities of e-merchants, and more specifically of SMES looking for growth in other national markets, how can policymakers, industry and other stakeholders work together to deliver the right conditions to enable cross-border ecommerce?

Moderator: Paul Adamson , Chairman, Forum Europe

Werner Stengg , Head of Unit - Public Interest Services, DG GROW, European Commission
Herbert Götz , Director of Marketing, International Post Corporation
Craig Arnold , Vice President Business Development, UPS Europe
Wouter Vergote , Associate Professor, University of Saint Louis
Johan Groffen , Partner, Printbirdie.com

15:50 – 16:00

Closing Remarks