Luncheon-debate with Phil Hogan, Commisioner for Agriculture and Rural Development

Last 22nd of March the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized a Luncheon-Debate with Phil Hogan, Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development about “Common Agricultural Policy: Added Value for the Future of Europe”. Among the attendees there was the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Córdoba, representatives of the REPER, Chamber members, business executives and also representatives of the Spanish autonomous delegations in Brussels.

The President of the Chamber Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons reviewed the career path of the Commissioner and thanked for his participation in the event, as well as his interest for the Spanish economy.

Afterwards, the Commissioner expressed being very thankful for attending to the Luncheon-Debate, highlighting that Spain values and cares about rural areas and considers always the agricultural economy. He remarked his six official stays in Spain during which he had the opportunity to meet with representatives of various sectors of the agricultural industry.

Hogan emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector in Spain, being the country of origin of 15% of the exports of the European Union. He highlighted Spanish products such as wine and citrus, which help agricultural growth.

Then he detailed the treaties that the EU has around the world related to agriculture. He also commented that the EU has in process policies for the renewal and innovation of farms, the search for fair trade and measures that are flexible for different sectors of agriculture.

During the questions and answers, the participants raised their questions to the Commissioner regarding different policies and treaties that are being carried out, such as negotiations with MERCOSUR or the need for agricultural market regulation.

Finally, Juan Rodríguez-Villa and Ignacio Fernández de Mesa, President of the Chamber of Cordoba, awarded the Commissioner in gratitude for his participation in the Luncheon-Debate and his work heading the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission.

The President also wanted to make a special mention to Baralides Wines, sponsor of the wine at the event.

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Networking lunch with a delegation from the Extremadura Family Business Association

On March 21st, the Extremadura Office in Brussels organized a networking lunch with a delegation from the Extremeña Association of Family Business (AEEF) to the Belgian capital. The AEEF is composed of leading sector companies in the Extremadura region of various branches of productive activity.

During the meeting, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to exchange information on their internationalization projects with partners and representatives of the Chamber. In addition, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of Spain in Belgium, David Martinez Hornillos, presented to the delegation the challenges and opportunities of the Belgian market and bilateral trade Spain-Belgium.

Success of the 2nd Workshop on the VAT on Intra-Community and E-commerce Operations

On March 15th, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, in collaboration with its member Spanish VAT Services, organized a conference about the “VAT on intra- community and e-commerce operations”. The event gathered representatives of different Spanish and Belgian companies, members of the Chamber, representatives of European Institutions and Spanish regional delegations.

The speaker of the conference was Fernando Matesanz, Managing Director of Spanish VAT Services and member of the International VAT Association.

For the second year in a row, Fernando took part in this conference, and once again the attendees showed a lot of interest. This was evidenced by the great number of questions that were raised during the conference.

The application of VAT is a key factor for companies acting at an intra-community level  when defining their profit margin. Nevertheless, not all the companies are aware of the exemptions and tax advantages available to them within the EU.

First, Fernando Matesanz began his speech by explaining the current situation of the intra-community trading operations, which cannot be considered as exportations. Additionally, he exposed how the intra supplies of goods are VAT exempted, provided that they meet some requirements, such as having a VAT number (included in the VIES database) and being able to prove the transport of the goods outside the supplier’s country.

Sometimes, the deadline for getting this number changes between countries. This have put some recent created companies in difficulty in terms of trading within Europe.

Moreover, it is not always easy to prove both requirements, which have led to some controversies that were solved by the European Court of Justice.

Nowadays, we find different harmonisation proposals that aim to clarify the criteria to has to be followed when many chain transactions are done.

On the other hand, the speaker highlighted the usefulness of the M.O.S.S (Mino One Stop Shops), that aims to avoid companies to pay a different VAT within each country they operate. According to this system, the Company pays taxes to its National Authority, which is in charge of satisfying the debts acquired with the other EU country’s authorities. However, there are some countries which have a bigger commercial network than others, which led some Member States to reject this proposal.

Subsequently, Matesanz referred to the supply of services. The taxation for these exchanges is set out in article 44 of the European VAT Directive. According to this article, “the place of supplies of services to a taxable person acting as such shall be the place where that person has established his business”. But still, a supplier of a service must always check if the recipient of the service is a taxable person, if it is acting like one and the place where it is established. 

This point gave rise to a discussion among the attendees, who were deeply involved in the debate. Sometimes, the companies have headquarters in one country, but they also have some fixed establishments in other countries, that  are, in fact, the beneficiaries of the service. Therefore, they should be the ones receiving the invoice of the taxations.

Then, Matesanz briefly mentioned the characteristics of non-EU trade, that is the direct and indirect exportations.

To conclude, the speaker underlined the importance of e-commerce nowadays, given the high number of transactions that are carried out through the Internet daily. For this reason, he spent some time to differentiate  B2B e-commerce goods transactions (which work in the same way as EU supply of goods) from B2C goods transactions, more typical of Internet sales, in which companies must take  into account the VAT of all the countries included in the transaction.

At the end of the conference, the participants were able to openly raise their questions.

Again, this conference held together with our partners of Spanish VAT Services was a success and met the expectations of those present. From the Chamber, we hope to count on their presence in future editions.

In collaboration with:

Presentation of the Chamber at the University of Antwerp

On March 14th,María Catalán, the Secretary General of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Belgium and Luxembourg, took part in the conference organized by the University of Antwerp.

The workshop was geared towards economics students. Maria Catalán presented bilateral trade data between Belgium and Spain and the role played by the Chamber for Spanish companies in Belgium.

Additionally, the Secretary General informed the students about the projects that the Chamber develops in relation with employment and entrepreneurship like the outstanding European program Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, for which the Chamber is a local  point in Belgium and whose objective is to promote the exchange of experiences among entrepreneurs in Europe.

Ordinary General Assembly of FEDECOM

The Federation of Official Chambers of Commerce of Spain in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania (FEDECOM) celebrated on March 9th its Ordinary General Assembly in Madrid.

The meeting took place in the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, and the Presidents and/or Secretary General of all the Chambers member participated in person or virtually. Alfredo Bonet, Internationalization Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, and Enrique Fanjul, Technician in the General Subdirectorate of Analysis and Strategy of Internationalization of the Secretary of State of Commerce, also took part in the meeting.

The topics that were discussed during the Assembly were, for example, the functional link between the network of  Official  Chambers of Commerce abroad and the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, the added value of belonging to the FEDECOM network and the collaboration between the Chambers member. It was also decided to grant the FEDECOM’s Enterprise of the Year Award 2018, and to inform the members about the accession of new Chambers to the Federation.

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21st Networking Meeting of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

The 6th and 7th of March took place in Brussels the “21st Networking Meeting of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” (EYE), where the different consortiums participating in the programme had the opportunity to learn about the future of the EYE programme and to interact and exchange best practices with different intermediary organisations.

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, as part of the of the programme since 2016, attended to this event. During the first day, different representatives from the European Commission (EC) unveiled future novelties that will be implemented in the programme. On the second day, a consortium meeting was organised to define the priority lines of actions for the coming year.

One of the main novelties announced by the EC is the initiative “EYE Global”, a pilot project that will allow 120 new entrepreneurs to do their exchange in countries such as Israel, Singapore and United States (specifically in the states of Pennsylvania and New York). This pilot project will be launched next May and will be in place for two years.

The other relevant announcement made by the EC representatives was the agreement on the continuity of the programme after 2021.  The EC is already working on the next programming period and the future of the programme has been guaranteed even though some modifications might be included.  The success of this programme after 7 years of implementation and its role in boosting entrepreneurial cooperation across Europe justifies the ambition of the EC to opt for the continuity of the programme.

The Mobility Plan (PICE) was presented to the European Chambers in Brussels

Last 6th of March, Ángela Ustárroz, responsible of the Mobility plan in Belgium and Luxembourg, talked about the programme to the members and delegates of the European Chambers in the headquarters of the Turkish Chambers (TOBB).

The Mobility Plan of the Integral Qualification and Employment Programme (PICE) is a programme created by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s network and co-financed by the European Social Fund. This programme is part of the Entrepreneurship Strategy and Youth Employment from the National Youth Guarantee System of Spain, an initiative of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security of Spain.

The Mobility Plan is being implemented by the Spanish Chambers’ network and its principal aim is to provide opportunities to the young people joining the programme to improve at a professional and personal level and, at the same time, to boost the productivity of the companies affiliated.

The companies can take part to the programme for free and they will have the opportunity to work with young people with a very good level in languages and whose degree and experience is adapted to the need of the company. This Mobility Plan plays a key role when it comes to reduce the unemployment and gives to the young participant the opportunity to get more experience and to progress at a personal level.

Together for youth employability

Through the Mobility Plan, the Official Spanish Chambers of Commerce in the European Union collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce of Spain and the Spanish Chambers’ network. The objective: to contribute to the improvement of youth employability thanks to the training for their personal and professional development.

Local Contact Point:

Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg

Rue Belliard 20, 1

1040 Brussels

Contact person in Belgium and Luxembourg:

Ángela Ustárroz

Angela.ustarroz@camara.es

For more information:

www.programapice.es/empresa/plan-de-movilidad

The New Director General Trade of Policy and Competitiveness Welcomes the Representatives of the FEDECOM

Antonio García Rebollar, Director General of Trade Policy and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Economy, Industry an Competitiveness, welcomed on March 9th in Madrid the Presidents and General Secretaries of the Federation of Official Chambers of Commerce of Spain in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania (FEDECOM), concurring with the Ordinary General Assembly celebration.

Throughout the reunion, the FEDECOM representatives had the opportunity to inform the  Director General about the external Chambers network status and also about the different problems they are facing. A reform of the Royal Ordinance that regulates the external Official Chambers of Commerce was announced by Antonio Garcia Rebollar, with the aim of adapting its content to the current reality.

25/4 Expats Golf Trophy

The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg has the pleasure to invite you to the 3rd Edition of the Expats Golf Trophy that will take place next Wednesday 25th April at the Golf Club d’Hulencourt.

The event is exclusive for members of the Chamber. Among the invitees, there will be numerous golf players expats in Belgium and members of other Chambers as well as representatives of the diplomatic body and international companies. In addition, for the non-professionals, an initiation course will be organized. After the tournament, a networking-cocktail and the awards ceremony will take place.

The members who wish to participate at the golf tournament or who want to introduce themselves in playing golf must register through the reply form found here: www.expatsgolftrophy.be

Do not hesitate to contact Diego Tasso for further information (diego.tasso@vaav.eu)

You can find the full program of the event in the following link. 

This event is organized in collaboration with:

Gastronomic Dinner with the Chef Marcos Morán in Luxembourg

Last 28th of February, the prestigious Cercle Munster of Luxembourg organized a gastronomic dinner prepared by the chef Marcos Morán with the participation of Hispania and the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg. This is the first event organized in this prestigious Luxembourgish private club that promotes Spanish gastronomy for the last few years.

The chef from Asturias delighted the 70 and more participants with an exceptionally gastronomic Spanish tasting menu. Among the participants, the ambassador of Spain in Luxembourg, members of the Chamber, representatives of European institutions, head directors of global companies and Luxembourgish members of the Cercle Munster were present.

The event is part of a programme called “Hispania around the world”. It consists of a series of trips during the year which gives the opportunity to know better the Spanish gastronomy and products in famous places.

About Marcos Morán:

Marcos Morán is the gastronomic director of Hispania in Brussels and London. He is also the chef and the property owner of the restaurant Casa Gerardo in Asturias, Spain.

Mr Morán is the fifth generation of professional chef in charge of Casa Gerardo; the restaurant which celebrates its 125th birthday and which was awarded a Michelin star and “Tres Soles” by Repsol Guide.

In 2008, Mr Móran was awarded with the prize of “Chef of the Year 2008”. During the principal gastronomic congresses in the world, he is a very scrupulous representative of Spain. In 2010, he received the “Chef Millesimé” award for the most promising Spanish chef. In 2016, he was honoured with the award “Chef de l’Avenir” by the International Academy of Gastronomy which awards talented young chefs in Europe.

The restaurant Hispania received important prizes such as “Alimentos de España” in 2014 awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment and a prize awarded by the Royal Spanish Academy of Gastronomy for the restaurant, with its chef Marcos Morán, which best promotes de Spanish gastronomy out of Spain.

 

 

 

 

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