On the 19^th of July, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg hosted a new luncheon-debate as part of its “Business Circle” platform, in which the Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, spoke about the priorities of the European Commission during the second part of her mandate.

First came the pandemic. Then, the war in Ukraine. Two situations that have shaken the whole world beyond the economic level and that McGuinness wanted to underline to remind that, despite adversity, the EU Member States have learned that only together they could move forward.

The world is changing faster than expected. Roadmaps drawn up in response to the coronavirus crisis are now being adapted again in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed. The result? Inflation is increasingly squeezing global economies, especially emerging ones, and central banks and other institutions such as those in the EU are working against the clock to ensure resilience.

During the event, which brought together a good number of company executives, delegates from Spanish regions, representatives of Spanish and European institutions, and representatives of Spanish and international organizations, consultants and partners of the Chamber, the Commissioner has focused precisely on the challenges and opportunities that have become more urgent: energy security, the stability of financial markets, the new taxonomy, the European Green Deal or the digital euro.

Regulate for the future

Beneath the opportunities for progress, there is also a challenge: to regulate for the future, not for the past. Open banking, open finance, cryptocurrencies, green transition… these are just some of the terms that still need to be understood and whose regulations or guidelines have to balance innovation with stability in the existing financial systems.

McGuinness concluded the event by reminding that, just the system she lived through during the 1980s and 1990s no longer bears similarities with the current one, neither will the one of the future. Therefore, during her office term, it is important that the long-term vision is preserved. 

As part of the debate, the Finance Commissioner answered questions from the attendees, who took the opportunity to express their willingness to the implementation of the European green taxonomy, as well as pondered the possible role of traditional banking in the digital euro project.

The Chamber would like to thank the Commissioner for her participation, as well as to show a particular gratitude to Bodegas Carpe Diem, whose wines “Gadea Syrah Tinto” and “Montespejo Blanco” were tasted by all the attendees, which made this luncheon-debate a very successful one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 10 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium Luxembourg held in Brussels a new luncheon-debate with the presence of Florika Fink-Hoojier, Director General for Environment of the European Commission. The event was entitled “Green transition: opportunities and challenges for European companies in an increasingly polarised world”.

A number of people attended the event, including company managers, delegates from the Autonomous Communities, representatives of Spanish and European organisations, consultants from different areas and various partners of the Chamber.

The conference was opened by the President of the Chamber, Pablo López-Álvarez, who took advantage of his speech to thank all those present for their attendance. He then highlighted the extensive career of the speaker Florika Fink-Hoojier, who has developed both in the private sector and in the European institutions, where she has held various positions of responsibility over the years.

López-Álvarez also took the opportunity to highlight how, in recent years, environmental policies have been becoming more important, to the point of becoming cross-cutting and key elements on which to build the EU’s future strategies.

Fink-Hoojier took the floor to begin his speech and to offer a brief review of the policies of her department in relation to the impulse that the institutions have given to the continent’s ecological transition. She pointed out that the packages of measures that have been used in recent months to respond to the Covid crisis are evidence of the commitment of the EU-27 to move towards the transformation of a new economic and social model that guarantees the sustainability of future generations.

Enviromental policies

The speaker highlighted how the recent crises have been a catalyst, so that, through the new financing mechanisms, more funds are allocated for the development of environmental policies that are now transversal to all the departments and measures promoted from Brussels.

Focusing on the role of industry and business in the continent’s green and digital transformation, which according to Fink-Hoojier must always go hand in hand, she highlighted how companies are increasingly aware of the great opportunity that the path towards climate neutrality and sustainability represents.

The ambitious plans of the Commission and the Member States, committed to a profound transformation in structural matters such as energy autonomy (REPowerEU) and the new European industrial policy, will involve the mobilisation of substantial funds. They are expected to be synonymous with the creation of thousands of jobs and a new green economy with a high degree of added value.

Fink-Hoojier also pointed out that her department, as well as the EU as a whole, sees the conservation of biodiversity as a key priority. Only in this way, we can prevent serious consequences that would have a major impact on our societies, such as future pandemics, as well as ensure key issues such as food security.

After the presentation, there was a round of questions where the participants could give their opinion and ask different questions about what was exposed, as well as creating an excellent environment for dialogue and debate.

From the Chamber we would like to show a special thanks to Bodegas “Encina Blanca de Albuquerque” whose wines “Blanco 12 Cepas” and “Tinto 9 Cepas” could be tasted by all the attendees, as well as to the participants, who made this event a very successful luncheon-debate.

On Tuesday 10 May, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg held in Brussels a new luncheon-debate with the presence of Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency of the European Commission. The event was entitled “Defending European values, transparency and the rule of law in a challenging geopolitical context: impact for business”.

A variety of people attended the event, including company managers, delegates from the Autonomous Communities, representatives of Spanish and European organisations, consultants from different areas and various partners of the Chamber.

The conference was opened by the President of the Chamber, Pablo López-Álvarez, who took the opportunity to thank all those present for their attendance. He then highlighted the extensive career of the speaker Věra Jourová in the European institutions, in which she has held various positions of responsibility over the years, as well as having been named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential personalities in the world in 2019.

European values

On the subject of the debate, López-Álvarez also took the opportunity to highlight the relevance of the current socio-political context and the consequences of the invasion in Ukraine in order to emphasise the importance of European values and spirit in the adoption of common measures.

Jourová took the floor to begin her speech and gave a brief review of her department’s policies in relation to the promotion of European values and transparency. She pointed out that EC policy is currently being directly influenced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which she took a very critical approach to, showing that it directly undermines the values that make up the European Union.

The speaker pointed out how the recent crises have reinforced the spirit that was at the origin of the EU and how member states have shown themselves to be up to the task by demonstrating a common policy of sending humanitarian support and armaments to defend the national sovereignty of a state that has seen it undermined in the middle of the European continent.

Jourová therefore stressed that the EU is no longer limited to an area where different countries are part of a single market, but described it as a union of countries that share a number of common freedoms and democratic values that must be cherished and not taken for granted in the future.

Independence and freedom

For Jourová, the EU has achieved great milestones over the years, and for her it is everyone’s responsibility to defend them and demand that all countries, while retaining their autonomy from EU bodies, apply policies that guarantee the key pillars of democracy, such as the strictest freedom of expression and judicial independence.

Jourová outlined the creation of an annual dossier that provides a comprehensive overview of the rule of law in the different members of the Union, highlighting areas for improvement in order to make further progress and perfect our democratic systems.

The Vice-President also declared that the Commission considers various issues to be key to the development of the European project, including respect for the rule of law by all members of the Union, the creation of a regulation adapted to the new digital contexts that allows the sovereignty of all members to be discussed in key issues such as electoral processes, and the continent’s leadership in terms of ecological transition.
After the presentation, there was a round of questions where participants could make their opinions known and raise different issues about what was presented, as well as creating an unbeatable environment for dialogue and debate.

From the Chamber we would like to express our special thanks to Bodega Atavus Priorat, whose wines could be tasted by all the attendees, as well as to the participants, who made this event a very successful luncheon-debate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, Thursday 28th April, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg held in Brussels a new luncheon-debate with Kerstin Jorna, Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission. The theme of the event revolved around the Fit for Future strategy of the EU, which aims to establish a roadmap for the creation of an industrially competitive Europe.

More than 70 participants attended the event, including Chamber members, business executives, delegates from the Autonomous Communities and representatives of Spanish and European organisations.

The event was inaugurated by Pablo López Álvarez, President of the Chamber, who thanked all those present for their attendance. He dedicated a few words of special recognition to the extensive career of the speaker, Jorna, and her long trajectory dedicated to the European project. López-Álvarez also highlighted the current complex geopolitical situation due to the war in Ukraine and the still lingering consequences of the pandemic and its effects on the industrial fabric of the Eurozone.

The President of the Chamber also introduced Toon Digneffe, board member of EUCOPE – European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs, and sponsor of the event. Digneffe briefly introduced his organisation, Europe’s leading trade body for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises working in the field of biopharmaceuticals and medical technologies. He also stressed the importance of continuing to build the European value chain through collaboration between the business community.

Internal market of the EU

Jorna dedicated her speech to a brief review of the consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and its implications for the internal market of the European Union. She stressed that the current context has served to identify the importance of a stable supply chain for Europe, which, according to her, must be based on collaborative ecosystems that take advantage of the EU’s own resources.

The speaker took the opportunity to affirm that European industrial policy is more necessary than ever, and that it must play a key role in the transformations that the European economic model must undergo in the coming decades. Jorna pointed out the importance of creating an excellent environment for attracting private capital, which will ultimately be the fundamental pillar for making possible the development of a new sustainable industrial and economic model for the future.

The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session where participants were able to express their opinions and raise different issues related to the presentation.

From the Chamber we would like to show a special thanks to Bodegas Madrid Romero, whose wines “Vino Tinto Madrid Romero” and “3 Calas Sauvignon Blanc” could be tasted by all the attendees, as well as the participants, making this event a very successful luncheon-debate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Tuesday 22nd February, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organised a new luncheon-debate with the participation of Gerassimos Thomas, Director General for Taxation and Customs Union – DG TAXUD at the European Commission. The theme of the event revolved around the role of the energy tax, the CBAM and the implications for customs authorities reflected in the new European Green Deal and was sponsored by the firm Van Bael & Bellis.

The conference was opened by Pablo López-Álvarez, President of the Chamber, who took the opportunity to thank all those present for their attendance, and then dedicated a few words of special recognition to the extensive career of the speaker Gerassimos Thomas and his long trajectory in European institutions. López-Álvarez also highlighted the complex situation Europe is facing in relation to energy and the importance of a regulatory framework adapted to the current context.

The President of the Chamber also introduced Pablo Muñiz, partner at Van Bael & Bellis and sponsor of the event. Muñiz briefly introduced his company, a leading international law firm in European commercial law and international law, and highlighted the intense work that European regulators are currently facing in imposing different taxonomic tools in many different areas of activities, and then handed over the floor to Gerassimos Thomas.

Taxation tools

Thomas, dedicated his speech to explaining the different tax and regulatory tools currently available to the EU to meet the objectives set out in the European Green Deal, in relation to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the stimulation of environmentally friendly energy.

In this context, Thomas stressed that the package of measures promoted by the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, brought together the various political and administrative tools to address the challenges posed by the current climate situation.

Thomas also took the opportunity to stress the continued concern of the European authorities about the sustained increase in energy prices. He also pointed out that the best way to avoid future instabilities is to follow the path set out by the EU Green Deal and continue to focus on the transition to a supply system that comes from renewable sources and closer geographical location.

Focusing on how European industries must transform themselves to adapt to the challenges posed by packages such as the Fit for 55, Thomas clarified that the answer cannot come from the regulatory framework alone, stressing that taxation tools can and should play a key role in providing concrete incentives for companies to move forward and adapt to the current situation.

Descarbonisation

With regard to the CBAM (Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism), Thomas advanced that it will be a key tool for making external EU producers assume greater climate ambition when it comes to decarbonising their production processes in a similar way to that which European companies will be obliged to do. This will reduce the competitive advantage of companies located outside the European area and will encourage third countries to take concrete measures in the fight against global warming, thus promoting sustainable production.

Thomas dedicated the last few minutes of his speech to stressing the importance of compliance by European importers with all regulatory measures regarding products entering the common market. He also highlighted the constant coordination of the European authorities with the economic and productive sectors most affected by the energy transition and the importance of advancing in this transition in a coordinated manner, without forced impositions and an agreed timetable, thus promoting a stable commitment to the future.

After the presentation, a round of questions began, where the participants were able to express their opinions and ask different questions about what had been presented. Among the issues that aroused most interest were the doubts about the possibilities of not passing on the increase in energy prices to end consumers, as well as the importance of raising awareness among citizens to consume products that, although more expensive, are identified with the values that Europe wants to promote in relation to an environmentally neutral society.

From the Chamber we would like to show a special thanks to Atavus Priorat, whose wines IURA 2011 and Buen Karma 2019 could be tasted by all the attendees, as well as to the participants, for making this event a very successful lunch-debate.