On May 14th, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, organized in collaboration with its member company ESADE Business School, a masterclass on “Disruption:”Exonomics “and technological trends”. The masterclass was given by Xavier Ferrás, Doctor in Economics and Business by the UB, MBA by ESADE and Telecommunications Engineer (UPC) and was attended by various associations, members of the Chamber and representatives of Spanish public institutions.

In the first place, Xavier gave a few words of welcome and thanked the attendees. Later, the main theme of the masterclass was presented: to provide a global view of global disruption trends, the interactions between established companies and new players, as well as the dynamics of teams and the leadership of innovation.

Throughout the talk, different key points were addressed. In the first place, an attempt was made to understand the global trends of disruption, detailing the most relevant and disruptive technologies that influence the technological environment of the economy. The commercial implications of exponential technologies were also pointed out, with special emphasis on how the productive and commercial processes have evolved in companies, generating the need for business transformation and adaptation to the environment.

Ferrás also wanted to expose the dynamics of the innovation teams, which represent engines of transformation for organizations, given that we are in an innovative and digital economy. Likewise, leadership in innovation was taken into consideration, presenting how the way of leading companies towards more innovative and productive ways has evolved.

Another important issue was the foundations of technology management, that is, the whole process of research, development and adaptation of new technologies in the company as a whole, taking into account those technologies used in management functions, as well as in the production of goods and services.

Additionally, there was a review of the current technologies with a faster development and evolution that are of great importance for the industry and its adjacent sectors. We are talking about technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), Artificial Intelligence or Blockchain Technology, among others.

Finally, the floor was open for questions in which Ferras had the opportunity to provide further information about the subject.

On May 9^th , the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, in collaboration with its member KOAN Law Firm, organized a breakfast-conference about: “New companies and associations Code- It’s getting real!”. The speakers of the conference were Antoine Druetz (Partner) and Alix Degrez (Associate) from KOAN. The event gathered representatives of different companies and associations, members of the Chamber and representatives of Spanish public bodies.

The conference was focused on the law of March 23, 2019 introducing the New Companies and Associations Code (CAC), which contains various provisions. It is applicable since the 1^st May for the newly incorporated associations and foundations, whereas in the case of the existing associations and foundations the deadline to make their Articles of Associations (AoA) compliant with the CAC will be January 1^st, 2024. However, as of January 1, 2020, the application of the mandatory rules and, where appropriate, the residual rules of the CAC will begin.

This new Code has a wide importance within the Belgian business landscape, because amongst other things, it is a reform of the Act of 27 June 1921 on non-profit associations, international non-profit associations and foundations.

Both speakers presented the main novelties that have been introduced by the new code, which lead to important changes related to commercial activities, new liability regime, restructuration and transformations and governance rules (articles of association). Both Antoine Druetz and Alix Degrez gave details about the new rules and principles established by this code and that will affect to the Belgian Companies and Associations.

Among the most important modifications that are implemented it is worth noting those that will develop the current doctrinal principles and rules, to fill in the gaps of the law, as well as the global harmonization of companies, non- profit organizations, international non-profit organizations and foundations.

In this way, the attendees had the chance to get in touch deeply with the new provisions of the Code. The importance of the topic raised many questions among the attendees to the breakfast-conference. Druetz and Degrez cleared up all the doubts of the attendees who wanted to obtain more information about the various situations previously exposed in the conference.

Definitely, the event organized with our member KOAN Law Firm helped to understand much better the regulations of this new code, which undoubtedly will play an important role in Belgium these following years.

Last 6^th of March, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg organized, in collaboration with its member BLAW & TAX, a conference about the “Spanish Taxes for Individuals Living Abroad” at its headquarters in Brussels. The event gathered representatives of different Spanish and Belgian companies, members of the Chamber, representatives of European Institutions and Spanish regional delegations.

The conference was run by Inmaculada Pineda and Elsa Ochoa, partner and tax advisor of BLAW & TAX, a firm specialized in international taxation and legal-tax consulting at national and international scope related to corporate aspects.

The conference focused on two main issues: fiscal residency and its implications, regarding the taxation and fiscal benefits provided by the Spanish domestic legislation.

First, the different criteria established in the LIRPF for the determination of tax residency in Spain were presented, a fundamental element for determining the tax obligations of natural persons in the country.

Thus, the Spanish regulation incorporates the criteria of residence, location of economic interests and the presumption of tax residency in case the spouse or the children are tax residents in Spain.

Then, the speaker made reference to the situation of tax havens and the rule of “tax quarantine”, according to which taxation continues to pay taxes in Spain during the transfer year and the following four years.

They described two basic circumstances that determine fiscal residence: having had a presence in Spain more than 183 days during the year or that the center of economic or professional interests is in Spain; both circumstances are recidivists.

Afterwards, Elsa detailed the conventions to avoid double taxation signed by Spain. Specifically, the conference focused on the OECD Model Convention. These conventions are of great importance because they have primacy over Spanish internal regulations. Likewise, special cases were discussed about diplomats, officials and personnel at the service of the European Union.