Spanish-Belgian assets planning: get advised to optimize

On 29 October the conference about “Assets planning in a Spanish-Belgian inheritance context ” took place in Brussels, at the Spanish Chamber of commerce in Belgium and Luxemburg.

DSC_0049Rafaël Álvarez Campa, Partner in Brussels at law firm Wantiez, Bailleux, Causin & Janssen, and José María Moyano, Partner at the law firm Adarve Abogados in Madrid, both members of the International Network of tax experts Law and Numbers, were the speakers of what proved to be an interesting and interactive workshop, which gathered an important number of Spanish expatriated people who are tax residents in Belgium, and have financial interests in both countries.

During the seminar different questions about the Inheritance and Gift Tax – affecting tax residents in both countries – were examined. Undoubtedly the topics that generated more interest were Real Estate taxation and the recent Sanction to the Kingdom of Spain for unequal treatment between Spanish residents and non-residents on the Inheritance and Gift Tax.

“The need of being advised in advance is essential, because when the logic ends, then Belgium starts” Rafaël Álvarez Campa says, as an example of the complexity that can imply the correct planning of expatriated people’s assets planning. “Moreover if we take into account that there’s no existing agreement between Spain and Belgium to avoid double taxation in Inheritance and Gift matters”, José María Moyano emphasizes.

The conference was attended by numerous participants.

Visit to the Job Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain in France

On 29 October, the General Secretaries of the Official Spanish and French Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber in BeLux met in Paris, in order to exchange experiences on the management of Youth Programme and assess possible ways of collaboration in the supply of services for young Spaniards unemployed seeking a job abroad.

Both chambers, FEDECOM members, have developed since last March a program to help young Spaniards under the age of 35 living in France and BeLux, respectively. The activities under the program are supported and subsidized by the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.

European Parliament of Enterprises

Last Thursday, 16 October, the third edition of the “European Parliament of Enterprises” organized by Eurochambres, was organized in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels.

The objective of this initiative is to bring the concerns from the companies to the European legislators. A total of 751 employers, from the 28 EU countries and companies of all sizes and sectors, participated in the event. The composition of the EPE reflects the number of representatives per Member State. Several members of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg had the opportunity to participate in the initiative.

The EPE also has the objective of providing the companies more information about the importance of the decisions of the institutions in their activities and results, and the role and functioning of the European Union as well. During that day a parliamentary session was recreated that gave a voice to the European business.

After having compared the policy priorities for 2014 set by the European Commission, the European Parliament, the EU Presidency and members of Eurochambres, four areas of interest for business were identified: Internationalization, skills, finance and energy. At the end of each debate the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to participate in the voting process. The judgement on the chosen topics were transferred to the European institutions.

The first edition of the “European Parliament of Enterprises” was held on 14 October 2008 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Eurochambres. It is organized every two years in cooperation with the Higher Council of Chambers of Commerce and other national associations of European Chambers of Commerce and third countries members of Eurochambres.

Breakfast meeting with Spanish Euro-parliamentarians

On 16 October a business meeting with business representatives and Spanish Members of the European Parliament of the Group of the European People´s Party, the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe was organized at the European Parliament in collaboration with the High Council of Chambers of Commerce in Spain.

During the meeting partners of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, representatives of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce and the Euro-parliamentarians had the opportunity to discuss community matters that affect business competitiveness.

The Chambers of Commerce proposed the creation of a mixed Commission consisting of Chambers/Euro-parliamentarians so that the problems and interests of Spanish SMEs arrive at the European institutions. This proposal emerged as an answer to the generalized request of the Spanish political Groups present at the European Parliament to the Chambers themselves so that they serve as a communication channel and a connection with the real Spanish production system: SMEs and Micro-SMEs.

The main issues that were discussed in the course of the morning were: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the internationalization problem of small enterprises, the consequences of economic measures adopted by the EU against Russia, especially about the Spanish food sector, and the set of measures and incentives announced by the President of the European Commission, Juncker, which will involve an important infusion of funds.

Regarding the energy issue, the strategic position of Spain was dealt with with special interest, to connect with energy storage resources in North Africa with Europe through France, and the necessity of making the energy efficiency compatible with climate change policies.

Concerning the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Popular Party confirmed that it will be advantageous for the SMEs, especially in the field of the homologation of products, since one of the main themes dealt with with the United States is that, if a product is homologated in the European Union, that it will automatically also be homologated at the American market.

Chamber of Commerce participates in the 1st edition “A Coruña Exporpymes”

On 8 October the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Belgium and Luxembourg took part and accompanied Belgian and Luxembourg businessmen at the 1st edition of “A Coruña Exporpymes”.

The event was opened by the Economy and Industry Counselor, Francisco Conde; A Coruña major, Carlos Negreira; General Manager of the Superior Council of Chambers, Javier Carretero; and the President of the Chamber of A Coruña, Marcelo Castro-Rial Schuler.

“A Coruña Exporpymes”, based on the internationalization, was organized by the Chamber of Commerce of A Coruña and was supported by the City Hall and FEDER through the Superior Council Chambers.

“There is no doubt that exports are really important in the recovery of the economy as we can see it in the increase of GDP due to the exports. Chambers of Commerce are essential for small and medium companies to offer their products abroad” Marcelo Castro-Rial Schuler explains. He expects that this event will be discussed in an annual meeting for exporters. Furthermore, the General Manager of the Superior Council Chambers highlights that “accompanying pymes abroad is one of the most important duties of the Chambers”. Similarly, A Xunta set two targets for 2020: getting 8000 export companies and export sales amounting to a 40% of the Galician GDP. Major spoke about the importance of A Coruña as a proper place for the economic activity of the companies.

“Exporpymes” gathered 90 importers from 13 countries (Belgium and Luxembourg, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Morocco, United States, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Portugal and United Kingdom), exporters, companies which wanted to start to export, international trade experts, institutions related with exports and internationally oriented entrepreneurs. Indeed, 150 Galician companies from the construction, machinery, jewelry,  consulting, food and beverage sector took part in the event in order to look for some business opportunities.