Bénédicte Meille, a French national residing in Brussels, embarked on her journey as a first-year PhD researcher at the Law Department with a rich tapestry of experiences. She spent the past 20 years working for international organisations such as the World Customs Organization and the World Bank Group. Her focus has been on border management, trade facilitation, organisational development in government agencies, as well as building public-private partnerships. The red thread of her career has been promoting people-centred approaches to reform and change management, valuing human capital, promoting gender mainstreaming, and designing inclusion mechanisms for policymaking.
Given her vast experience in global governance and legal instruments, the transition to the field of law seemed a natural progression. Bénédicte had first hand witnessed the challenges and pitfalls in the practical implementation of global governance principles and this pushed her to dive deeper into the field of law, hoping to contribute to a more equitable global system in trade law.
When asked about her choice to pursue a PhD at the EUI Law Department, Bénédicte shared that the Law Department's unapologetic interdisciplinary approach to legal studies is one of the key factors that drew her in. Bénédicte's research at EUI is an extension of her on-ground experiences. The focal point of her work over the last ten years has been the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). While the agreement promised prosperity, Bénédicte observed the persistent challenges faced by the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), especially in West Africa. In parallel, she could witness how the situation in these countries deteriorated. This led Bénédicte to investigate the agreement's implementation shortcomings through a socio-legal analysis.
Bénédicte's journey from international organisations to academia is a testament to her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Her current research topic, 'Centering on the peripherals: effects and affects of trade facilitation in West Africa', promises to shed light on the implications of international agreements, paving the way for a fairer international trade system.
We warmly welcome Bénédicte to the Law Department. We are eager to see the profound insights and contributions that her vast experience will bring to our academic community.