2nd Edition of “Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce Bring SMEs into the European Debate”

Brussels, 7–8 April 2025 – Banco Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the European Union co-organised the second edition of the business mission “Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce Bring SMEs into the European Debate,” an intensive programme that enabled six Spanish SMEs to engage in direct and strategic dialogue with EU institutions.

The participating companies — DH2 Energy, Entrenadores Olarte, Grupo Sancho Melero, Inser Robótica, Quibim, and Splendid Foods — represent key sectors for Europe’s economic transformation: from the energy transition and artificial intelligence in healthcare to innovative food industries and technological defence. Over two days, they gained first-hand insight into how the European institutional ecosystem operates and presented their proposals and concerns in high-level dialogue settings.

The programme began with an institutional welcome by Alicia Sanchís, Director of Banco Santander’s Brussels office, and Pilar Ruiz Huélamo, Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the EU. The companies briefly presented their activities before sharing a networking lunch with the regional offices of Catalonia, Madrid, the Basque Country, and the Valencian Community.

The first substantive session focused on the role of these regional offices in Brussels, which explained how they act as intermediaries between territories and European policies. The companies learned that they have institutional partners capable of helping to position their local concerns at the European level.

Next, Mirzha de Manuel, from Commissioner Dombrovskis’ cabinet, presented the first “Omnibus simplification package,” designed to reduce regulatory burdens that particularly affect SMEs. This session illustrated the Commission’s efforts to turn legislation into a tool for fostering European entrepreneurship.

The afternoon block focused on funding opportunities available at the European level. Representatives from the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, the European Innovation Council Fund, and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency outlined the mechanisms of the Single Market Programme, the LIFE programme, and the EIC Accelerator. The companies especially valued the practical approach of the session, which explained not only what funding exists, but also how to successfully access it.

The first day concluded at the European Parliament with a meeting focused on the EU’s new vision for the agri-food sector, featuring MEP Carmen Crespo and the companies Splendid Foods and Grupo Sancho Melero. The discussion addressed challenges arising from climate change, the sustainability of production, and particularly water management as a strategic resource. It served as an example of how agri-food SMEs can align with the policy priorities of the new European cycle.

In the evening, the delegation attended a dinner debate on the role of the defence industry as a driver of reindustrialisation, with Diego de Ojeda, Head of Unit at the Commission’s Secretariat-General. The conversation highlighted new opportunities for technology companies in a sector undergoing rapid transformation.

The second day began at the European Parliament with a breakfast alongside MEPs Isabel Benjumea, Raúl de la Hoz, Francisco José Millán Mon, Maravillas Abadía, and Elena Nevado, focused on strengthening European competitiveness. Discussions covered regulatory reforms, fiscal policy, and the role of SMEs as key drivers of the EU’s renewed economic momentum.

The rest of the morning was dedicated to an intensive schedule of bilateral meetings, where each company had the opportunity to engage with MEPs and officials on specific topics:

• Entrenadores Olarte discussed with Juan Ignacio Zoido the role of the aerospace industry in trade defence and strategic autonomy.
• DH2 Energy met with Susana Solís to analyse the role of renewable hydrogen in Europe’s decarbonisation.
• Inser Robótica spoke with Pilar del Castillo about digital objectives for the 2024–2029 period and technological integration in industry.
• Quibim discussed with Nicolás González Casares the applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare and the development of digital twins.
• Splendid Foods and Grupo Sancho Melero exchanged views with Sergio Pavón on European agri-food promotion campaigns.

In the afternoon, the delegation met with Maurits Pino, Senior Expert at DG GROW, to delve into the “Clean Industrial Deal,” the Commission’s new strategy for a cleaner, fairer, and more competitive industry. The discussion focused on green taxation, process digitalisation, and support for SME industrial transformation.

The programme concluded with a lunch debate with Pablo Fons, member of the Commission’s Competitiveness Task Force, where structural measures to boost European productivity, improve the regulatory environment, and strengthen the role of the business sector in the real economy were discussed. Finally, Grupo Sancho Melero held a bilateral meeting with the Andalusia Office in Brussels to explore new avenues for internationalisation from a regional perspective.

The business delegation included Olivier Crambade (DH2 Energy), Andrés Albarracín and Mirian Gutiérrez (Entrenadores Olarte), Jaime Sancho (Grupo Sancho Melero), Ana Camacho (Inser Robótica), Javier Sáez Ipiens (Quibim), and David García Gassull (Splendid Foods). Representing the organising entities were Alicia Sanchís Arellano (Banco Santander) and Pilar Ruiz Huélamo (Spanish Chamber of Commerce Delegation to the EU).

This second edition has consolidated a model of direct engagement between Spanish SMEs and European institutions, enabling them not only to better understand the policies that affect them, but also to influence them, anticipate changes, and strengthen their presence in the Single Market.