Energy for Europe: Innovating for a sustainable future

Repsol, sponsor member of the Chamber, has the pleasure to invite you to the fourth edition of Repsol’s annual conference “Energy for Europe”, which will take place on Thursday 27th September 2018 at the Bibliothèque Solvay in Brussels.

The event is entitled “Energy for Europe: Innovating for a sustainable future” and will include a keynote speech from a high-level European Commission representative, followed by a panel discussion. The panel will look at the impact of today’s low-carbon successes on the future of energy, how to safeguard competitiveness, and what role sustainable finance could play.

More information will follow shortly. Should you wish to register, please reply through this link.

We are looking forward to your participation.

The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme goes global

In the framework of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme, the European Commission has recently launched EYE Global, an initiative that gives the opportunity to EU-residing entrepreneurs to carry on an exchange with other entrepreneurs based in USA (states of New York and Pennsylvania), Singapore and Israel.

 The New Entrepreneurs´ exchange covers 1-3 months and is partly co-financed by the EU. A lump sum to cover travel costs (800,- EUR for USA and Singapore, and 600,- EUR for Israel), as well as a monthly subsistence allowance of 1000,- EUR is offered by the EU.

The Official Spanish Chamber in Belgium and Luxembourg, as a local contact point for the EYE programme, can provide you with all the information on how to take part in EYE Global. Contact us now if you are an entrepreneur resident in Belgium or Luxembourg and you want to learn from experienced entrepreneurs in USA, Singapore or Israel.

President of FEDECOM takes part in the Plenary Session of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Juan Rodríguez- Villa Matons, President of FEDECOM (Federation of Official Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania), took part last 18th July in the plenary session of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, which took place at Endesa company headquarters.

The President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, recognized the good work done by the Government of Mr Rajoy and the impetus given to the cameral system, after the approval of the Basic Law 4/2014 of 1st April on Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation. Furthermore, he expressed his determination to continue having a close collaboration with the new government.

Then, the results of the recent elections hold in the territorial chambers were notified to the plenary session.

The presidents of the ports, digitalization, circular economy and employment commission showed the work that they were developing. It was presented the new challenge due to the economic cycle changing, as well as the society need for adaptation and, particularly, to the new digital era.

Ramón Paredes, president of the employment commission, highlighted the need to adapt youth training to the new market challenges, to face an increasingly professional training offer.

All the commissions are looking for new solutions, working closely with the administration, to optimize the advantages imposed by the new economic horizon.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce General Director announced the opening of a new Chamber in Malta, and the upcoming implantations in Malasia, Singapur, Tailandia, South Korea and the UAE.

Besides, it was announced the future participation in the European Parliament for businesses next 10th October in Brussels.

It is also being analyzed the celebration of the biannual COMECOES (Chamber of Commerce foreign networks) meeting in Madrid.

The Presidency, Executive Committee and the Plenary mandate will expire in the frame of the next November the Plenary Session, consequently new members will be elected.

Afterwork with members in Luxembourg

Last July 12th, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized an afterwork among members of the Chamber in Luxembourg. The event took place at Hotel Meliá Luxembourg. The after-work is an initiative of the Chamber that seeks to promote networking and generation of new business opportunities among its members.

The event had many attendees, among them members and supporters of the Chamber.

The event counted with the collaboration of Hotel Meliá Luxembourg, which presents its services to all the attendees. Besides, it offered an aperitif, allowing them to interact and enjoy an ideal environment to generate business opportunities.

From the Chamber, we would like to thank Hotel Meliá for its support. We hope to keep on working next to them in future editions and events hold in Luxembourg.

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The Chamber presents the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme at TransformaBXL

On the 12th of July, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg presented in Brussels the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme at the coworking space TransformaBXL. This EC initiative, that has been run by the Chamber for 3 years now, has the objective to connect entrepreneurs across Europe and to promote the exchange of experiences among them.

Arturo Ibáñez and Soraya Bravo, project managers of the EYE programme, explained the role of the Chamber in Belgium and Luxembourg and its involvement in European projects.  The presentation continued with the explanation of the main requirements to participate in the programme as New Entrepreneur (NE) and Host Entrepreneur (HE) and the description of the support given by the Chamber to take part in the programme and carry out an exchange.

During this information session, we had the opportunity to present a success story. We invited our host entrepreneur, Chema Cruz, who is now hosting a Spanish new entrepreneur, Gloria Llopis, in his company. They both explained how the found out about the programme, how they manage to find each other through the EYE platform and how they agreed on the working plan.

HE and NE showed their satisfaction with the programme and they expressed their willingness to continue collaborating after the exchange.  Gloria and Chema are an excellent example of the synergies that can be created through this EC initiative.

 

Luncheon-Debate with Diego Canga Fano, Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Parliament

Last 10th of July, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized a luncheon- debate hosting Diego Canga Fano, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the European Parliament. The theme was “The European Parliament, representative of the EU citizens”. Company directors, members of the Chamber and representative of public institutions were the main participants. The luncheon- debate was sponsored by the consulting and technology company Indra.

Ignacio Mataix, executive Director of Indra, was in charge of the presentation. He expressed the excellent labour developed by Diego Canga at the Parliament as well as the compromise of the company with the European project. Juan Rodríguez Villa- Matons, President of the Chamber, showed his satisfaction about being able to count on a guest such as Diego Canga as well as with the collaboration of well-known companies, through which the Chamber is able to keep on growing.

The intervention of Diego Canga was marked by a dynamic and invitational tone. His speech was focused mainly in the collaboration and communication between the European Institutions and the confidence placed by the European citizens in the Parliament, which has considerably increased in the recent times.

The speaker made emphasis on the most relevant changes made during the mandate of President Tajani, begun in 2017 and which are mainly focused in giving a greater role to the citizen’s voice.

Canga also pointed out daily and inner politics of the European Parliament, which even if they are less known by the citizens, play an important role.

Furthermore, Canga focused part of his speech in the challenges that the current team will face these coming years: financial framework, the Brexit and the legislation pending, which will be pushed next semester.

Hearing and learning from Diego Canga, with more than 27 years of experience within the European Institutions, certainly added a very interesting vision to the attendees that enjoyed a distended environment. Sharing the personal thoughts of Canga helps to better understand the European project and the demanding challenges that the European Institutions still have to face.

As the themes were recent, the participants took actively part to the debate and the Q&A round.

The Chamber will also like to thank Félix Solís Avantis, whose wines could be tasted by the all the attendees.

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Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs consortium meeting at EASME

On the 4th of July, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in the consortium meeting for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme. This EC initiative that has been run by the Chamber for 3 years now has the objective to connect entrepreneurs across Europe and to promote the exchange of experiences among them.

The meeting took place at the premises of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). The 9 partners of the consortium attended to the meeting as well as the EU officer managing the EYE programme. The chamber will be running the programme for 3 more years and this was an excellent opportunity to discuss the future strategy of the partners and the priority lines of actions.

The Chamber reaffirmed its intention to consolidate the EYE as a key programme for the organization. The Chamber has considerably increased its number of exchanges; a total of 4 were registered in 2016, 9 in 2017 and 14 during the first 6 months of 2018.