On 26 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg held its Ordinary General Assembly at the Chamber’s headquarters (Avenue des Arts 1-2, 1210 Brussels). The event gathered a large number of members and was attended by the honorary vice-president of the Chamber, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor, María Ortiz.
The event began with a brief speech by the President, Pablo López-Álvarez, to welcome and thank all the members present and to explain the absence of an ambassador at the Assembly, given the transition period before the establishment of the new Ambassador Rodríguez-Coso. He then thanked the Chamber for all the work done throughout the year, highlighting its work during the recent office move, during which he affirms that there has been no detriment to the activity of the members.
Subsequently, and following the Agenda, the Secretary General reported on the activities carried out by the Chamber during the last financial year, which are included in the Chamber’s Annual Report for the year 2024. During the review, she highlighted the positive trend in the increase of members with four new benefactor members and seven sponsors.
Then, the report on the accounting situation of the Chamber as at 31 December 2024 was presented. The Vice-President for Belgium, Abelardo García, took the floor on behalf of the Treasurer and made a detailed analysis of the balance sheet and the profit and loss account for the financial year 2024. In general terms, he described the result of the financial year as ‘very satisfactory’, despite a 10% drop in the Chamber’s income, explained by the ‘complex’ election year 2024, which complicated the organisation of events. ‘The fact that we closed with a surplus of 200,000 euros is proof of a very resilient year, taking into account its complexity,’ explained the vice-president.
The General Assembly approved the annual accounts for the financial year 2024, by unanimous vote of those present and represented.
Renewal of Board Members
The Secretary General announced the names of the members who will complete their term of office, as well as the candidatures received, which, in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, are standing for re-election.
This year, due to the limited number of candidacies (7 candidacies for 7 seats), all candidates are elected to serve as members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for the next 3 years by popular acclamation.
The new members of the Board of Directors, as well as those revalidating their seats, are:
- Joseba Arriortua, Partner in a personal capacity (Vice-President)
- Eva Chamizo, Iberdrola (Member)
- Susana Garayoa, Zabala Innovation (Member)
- Marie Manzah, Air Europa (Member)
- Ángel Rebollo, ARPA EU Affairs & Communication (Member)
- Javier Segura, Meliá Hotels International (Member)
- Laura Vilches, LaLiga (Member)
The President stressed, at the end of the Assembly, his thanks to the outgoing Ambassador Alberto Antón, as well as to Ambassador Rodríguez-Coso, outgoing in Luxembourg but incoming in Belgium. He also thanked the whole of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for their work, which ‘rows in the same direction’.
