Business Circle archivos - Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo

25/11 Luncheon-debate with Martin Engell-Rossen, Head of Cabinet of Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing

Cámara BeLux — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:47:49 +0000

25/11 Luncheon-debate with Martin Engell-Rossen, Head of Cabinet of Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing

Next Wednesday 25th November, from 12.30 to 14.30, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organising a luncheon-debate in the framework of its Business Circle tribune with the participation of Martin Engell-Rossen, Head of Cabinet of Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing.

More information on the location and the theme of the luncheon-debate will be available soon.

The presentation will be in English and under the Chatham House Rule, in the Hotel NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon (Rue Bodenbroek 2, 1000 Brussels).

You can register for this luncheon in this link.

REGISTRATION

La entrada 25/11 Luncheon-debate with Martin Engell-Rossen, Head of Cabinet of Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

Cristina Dias discusses the EU’s efforts to channel savings into productive investment

Cámara BeLux — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:18:43 +0000

Cristina Dias discusses the EU’s efforts to channel savings into productive investment

On Thursday, 25 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg held a new business luncheon as part of its Business Circle, featuring Cristina Dias, Head of Cabinet of Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union. During the event, the speaker outlined the European Commission’s priorities for advancing the integration of European financial markets and strengthening the Union’s competitiveness.

Following the welcome cocktail, the Chamber’s President, Pablo López Álvarez, welcomed the attendees and thanked the speaker for taking part in the event, highlighting her distinguished professional background.

The floor was then given to Juan Flames, CEO of SIX Group, the event’s sponsor, who stressed the need to develop mechanisms capable of channelling Europe’s substantial household savings into the productive economy. In this regard, he advocated the creation of a European Savings and Investment Account, inspired by successful models such as Sweden’s, to encourage citizens’ participation in capital markets through simple, transparent investment products supported by appropriate incentives.

The Savings and Investments Union: a new approach

During her keynote address, Cristina Dias explained that the new Savings and Investments Union (SIU) strategy represents an evolution of the previous Capital Markets Union initiative by bringing capital markets and the banking sector together under a single framework.

According to Dias, Europe possesses major strengths, including high levels of private savings, innovative companies and a highly skilled workforce. However, significant barriers still prevent this capital from effectively financing business growth and innovation. Among these obstacles, she highlighted regulatory fragmentation, differences between national insolvency and tax frameworks, and the remaining barriers to cross-border investment.

The Head of Cabinet underlined that the main innovation of the strategy lies not only in new legislative initiatives but also in a broader approach based on stronger coordination among Member States, improved implementation of existing rules and the gradual removal of the barriers that continue to fragment European financial markets.

She also emphasised that the success of the Savings and Investments Union should not be measured by the number of legislative acts adopted, but by its ability to create investment opportunities, foster economic growth and bring financial markets closer to both citizens and businesses.

The luncheon concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which participants discussed the prospects for the new European strategy, the integration of payment systems and the reduction of regulatory barriers across the European Union.

Sponsored by:

La entrada Cristina Dias discusses the EU’s efforts to channel savings into productive investment se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

Nicolás Pascual de la Parte calls for greater European autonomy in defence

Cámara BeLux — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:17:50 +0000

Nicolás Pascual de la Parte calls for greater European autonomy in defence

On 24 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, hosted a discussion and networking lunch with Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Member of the European Parliament and former Spanish Ambassador to NATO, who called for greater European autonomy in security matters at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

The meeting began with a welcome address by the Chamber’s president, Pablo López Álvarez, who noted that this was Pascual de la Parte’s third visit, whilst recalling what his first visit had been like. For his part, José Bayón, Director of Institutional Relations at GDELS, sponsor of the event, explained why the defence industry plays a crucial role today, as well as the cornerstones of his company.

Nicolás Pascual de la Parte then took the floor to analyse the current geopolitical situation: the conflicts currently underway, the European Union’s role in them, and the shift in dynamics that these entail. He emphasised that a “new era” is dawning in international relations and argued that Europe must decide what its next steps will be. In his view, the EU must move towards greater autonomy in defence, but also in technology, energy, medicine and healthcare.

He therefore argued that the European Union needs greater integration and standardisation, and must focus on practical measures relating to European defence in order to achieve the autonomy that will enable it to avoid dependence on other international actors in any of the areas mentioned.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session that sparked discussions on European integration and regional strategy, as well as an address by the former Speaker of the Chamber, Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, who thanked the attendees and the speaker. Finally, participants enjoyed a light networking lunch to share perspectives and strengthen professional ties.

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La entrada Nicolás Pascual de la Parte calls for greater European autonomy in defence se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

José Antonio Sebastián calls for European cooperation to ensure the full integration of the Atlantic Corridor

Cámara BeLux — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:59:04 +0000

José Antonio Sebastián calls for European cooperation to ensure the full integration of the Atlantic Corridor

On Monday 22 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg hosted a breakfast debate with José Antonio Sebastián, the Spanish Government’s Commissioner for the Atlantic Corridor, who gave a presentation on the development and implementation of the corridor in Spain, highlighting its main challenges for the near future.

The breakfast debate began with an introduction to the speaker by the Chamber’s president, Pablo López Álvarez. Sebastián then took the floor and began his address by thanking the Chamber for its “hard work”.

The Atlantic Corridor is one of the nine major priority transport corridors included in the European Union’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and, as its Commissioner explained, it is the most developed, having doubled in length over the last ten years.

An interconnected Europe

Beyond what has already been completed, investment to continue developing the Corridor has increased sixfold in projects already budgeted for: over the next five years, it will reach 12 billion euros.

In this regard, Sebastián analysed two of the Corridor’s most significant projects in Spain. The first, the Lisbon–Madrid link, will evolve over the coming years from a journey taking around nine hours by train – with at least two compulsory changes – to a direct journey taking just three hours by the early 2030s.

The second connection, the Madrid–Paris line, will take a little longer to materialise and will depend largely on cooperation from the French authorities. In this regard, Sebastián praised the European Commission’s coordination efforts to drive forward the full integration of the Corridor and called for cross-border cooperation to give the project the European dimension for which it was conceived.

The event concluded with an extensive Q&A session covering topics such as the Iberian track gauge and its impact on rail links with France and Portugal, as well as military rail transport.

La entrada José Antonio Sebastián calls for European cooperation to ensure the full integration of the Atlantic Corridor se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

13/07 Breakfast-debate with Henri Piffaut, Adviser to Director in charge of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation at DG COMP

Cámara BeLux — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:09:03 +0000

13/07 Breakfast-debate with Henri Piffaut, Adviser to Director in charge of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation at DG COMP

Next Monday 13^th July, from 9.00 to 10.00 a.m., the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organising a breakfast-debate with the participation of Henri Piffaut, Adviser to Director in charge of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation at DG COMP.

The event will take place in Brussels, at the premises of the Chamber (Avenue des Arts 1-2, 9^th floor, 1210 Brussels).

The topic of the breakfast-debate will be “The Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Current Developments and Outlook”.

The presentation will be in English. You can register for this breakfast in the link below.

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La entrada 13/07 Breakfast-debate with Henri Piffaut, Adviser to Director in charge of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation at DG COMP se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

01/10 Breakfast-debate with Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, rapporteur of the European Parliament on the Industrial Accelerator Act

Cámara BeLux — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:02 +0000

01/10 Breakfast-debate with Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, rapporteur of the European Parliament on the Industrial Accelerator Act

Next Thursday 1^st October, from 9.00 to 10.00 a.m., the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organising a breakfast-debate with the participation of Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, rapporteur of the European Parliament on the Industrial Accelerator Act, who will outline the parliamentary work carried out in support of this legislation.

The event will take place in Brussels, at the premises of the Chamber (Avenue des Arts 1-2, 9^th floor, 1210 Brussels).

The presentation will be in English. You can register for this breakfast in this link:

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La entrada 01/10 Breakfast-debate with Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, rapporteur of the European Parliament on the Industrial Accelerator Act se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

27/10 Luncheon-debate with Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet of Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity

Cámara BeLux — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:48:06 +0000

27/10 Luncheon-debate with Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet of Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity

Next Tuesday 27th October, from 12.30 to 14.30, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organising a luncheon-debate in the framework of its Business Circle tribune with the participation of Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet of Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity.

The event will take place in the Hotel The Dominican (Rue Léopold 9, 1000 Brussels).

More information on the location and the theme of the luncheon-debate will be available soon.

The presentation will be in English and under the Chatham House Rule.

You can register for this luncheon in this link.

REGISTRATION

La entrada 27/10 Luncheon-debate with Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet of Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

Beatriz Navarro points out that honesty and credibility are essential for institutions to connect with the public

Cámara BeLux — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:00:26 +0000

Beatriz Navarro points out that honesty and credibility are essential for institutions to connect with the public

For the deputy spokesperson for the President of the European Council, Beatriz Navarro, the honesty of the message, credibility and spontaneity are key to connecting with the public from within the institutions and projecting the EU’s narrative. She emphasised this last Thursday, 4 June, at a meeting held at the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, as part of the platform Bussiness Circle.

The event began with a brief introduction of the speaker by the Chamber’s president, Pablo López-Álvarez, in which he highlighted both Navarro’s career in journalism, as a correspondent in Brussels and Washington, and her work as spokesperson for President Costa in recent years.

Beatriz Navarro began her speech by setting the scene regarding the production, circulation and consumption of information surrounding the European institutions: “It is difficult for everyone to stay informed due to the sheer volume of information and negative news.”

She therefore argued that, in order to project the European narrative, the institutions must send out messages that are honest, reliable and have an impact on citizens. At the same time, she highlighted António Costa’s ability to communicate with the public thanks to his authenticity and spontaneity.

He then reviewed the actions being undertaken by the Council Presidency and the long-term vision for the legislative term, highlighting, among other things, the importance of competitiveness and relations with countries outside the EU.

Finally, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions regarding changes in communication over the last 20 years, relations with Latin America, and the European Union’s annual budget.

La entrada Beatriz Navarro points out that honesty and credibility are essential for institutions to connect with the public se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

Johannes Ten Broeke reviews European initiatives aimed at reconciling energy security with climate policy

Cámara BeLux — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:34:37 +0000

Johannes Ten Broeke reviews European initiatives aimed at reconciling energy security with climate policy

On Tuesday 2 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg held another lunch-time discussion as part of its ‘Business Circle’ series, at which Johannes Ten Broeke, Head of Cabinet to Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, gave a presentation explaining how the EU combines climate policy with energy security objectives.

Following the welcome cocktail reception, the Chamber’s president, Pablo López Álvarez, opened the lunch by thanking the speaker for his participation in the debate and outlining his career.

Next to speak was Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Moeve, the event’s sponsor, who highlighted the company’s commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability, with numerous major projects in Spain. An example of this is the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen project.

However, Wetselaar considered that, although we are on the right track, “Europe has homework to do”, and urged the authorities not to change climate policy ambitions at this stage and to focus on their execution.

Ten Broeke, for his part, began his presentation by setting the current state of climate policy against the backdrop of the conflict between Iran and the United States, which is causing a rise in energy prices across the European Union as a side effect. This situation has once again highlighted Europe’s vital need to regain energy sovereignty.

The ETS, under review

In this regard, the Head of Cabinet to the Climate Commissioner listed the legislative initiatives currently underway to reconcile energy security with sustainability and decarbonisation, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which came into force last January.

In this context, the revision of the Emissions Trading System (ETS), due to be adopted this summer with the aim of continuing to incentivise European industrial electrification, will also play a very significant role, and its adoption will be “crucial”.

According to Ten Broeke, the key to ensuring these European measures have a long-term impact lies in “bringing in the rest of the world” that clean climate policies work and that they are viable and attractive from a business perspective: “Decarbonisation does not mean deindustrialisation”.

Following the presentation, there was an extensive question-and-answer session in which topics such as large-scale hydrogen projects, the management of non-recyclable waste and the modernisation of the energy tax system were raised.

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La entrada Johannes Ten Broeke reviews European initiatives aimed at reconciling energy security with climate policy se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

15/09 Luncheon-debate with Bernd Biervert, Head of Cabinet of Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security

Cámara BeLux — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:29:22 +0000

15/09 Luncheon-debate with Bernd Biervert, Head of Cabinet of Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security

Next Tuesday 15th September, from 12.30 to 14.30, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is organising a luncheon-debate in the framework of its Business Circle tribune with the participation of Bernd Biervert, Head of Cabinet of Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.

The event will be held in the Hotel NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon (Rue Bodenbroek 2, 1000 Brussels).

More information on the theme of the luncheon-debate will be available soon.

The presentation will be in English and under the Chatham House Rule.

You can register for this luncheon in this link.

REGISTRATION

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La entrada 15/09 Luncheon-debate with Bernd Biervert, Head of Cabinet of Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.