Breakfast meeting with Spanish Euro-parliamentarians

On 16 October a business meeting with business representatives and Spanish Members of the European Parliament of the Group of the European People´s Party, the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe was organized at the European Parliament in collaboration with the High Council of Chambers of Commerce in Spain.

During the meeting partners of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, representatives of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce and the Euro-parliamentarians had the opportunity to discuss community matters that affect business competitiveness.

The Chambers of Commerce proposed the creation of a mixed Commission consisting of Chambers/Euro-parliamentarians so that the problems and interests of Spanish SMEs arrive at the European institutions. This proposal emerged as an answer to the generalized request of the Spanish political Groups present at the European Parliament to the Chambers themselves so that they serve as a communication channel and a connection with the real Spanish production system: SMEs and Micro-SMEs.

The main issues that were discussed in the course of the morning were: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the internationalization problem of small enterprises, the consequences of economic measures adopted by the EU against Russia, especially about the Spanish food sector, and the set of measures and incentives announced by the President of the European Commission, Juncker, which will involve an important infusion of funds.

Regarding the energy issue, the strategic position of Spain was dealt with with special interest, to connect with energy storage resources in North Africa with Europe through France, and the necessity of making the energy efficiency compatible with climate change policies.

Concerning the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Popular Party confirmed that it will be advantageous for the SMEs, especially in the field of the homologation of products, since one of the main themes dealt with with the United States is that, if a product is homologated in the European Union, that it will automatically also be homologated at the American market.

The Chamber participates in an academic act organized by Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Brussels

Within the framework of the program to obtain the masters’ degree “Master in International Business”, organized by the University of Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona, on Monday 1 July, an academic act was organized at the Delegation of Regional Government of Catalonia in Brussels, in which the President of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg participated.

logo_principal_boxeoJuan Rodríguez-Villa Matons adressed a group of students from 26 different nationalities who travelled to Brussels and Amsterdam to be in contact with the business and institutional world.

Our President referred to BENELUX as an inspiring Institution for European Union. He made an analysis of the Treaties which determined the creation of European Communities: ECSC, EURATOM and EEC and Schengen Agreement in which BENELUX Union was the promoter. He underlined that the European integration was catalyzed by the necessity of reaching peace in Europe after the Second World War.

Finally, he informed about the cameral organization in Spain, with special reference to the significant work which Official Chambers of Commerce of  Spain abroad carry out towards External Trade Policy of the Spanish Government.

Then, two representatives of EVERIS, associated with the Chamber, offered a vision of the importance of the IT market in Europe in which EVERIS has an increasing role. Furthermore, the international expansion of the company was emphasized.