Brussels, 4 December 2025 – The Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Banco Santander held, on 2 and 3 December, the 3rd edition of “Santander and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce Bring SMEs into the European Debate,” an initiative designed to strengthen dialogue between the Spanish business community and EU institutions. Its objective is to bring SMEs’ concerns to Brussels and facilitate their participation in shaping European policies.
This edition focuses on the circular economy as a strategic pillar for European competitiveness and on the role that mid-cap companies can play in this transition. To this end, the mission includes three leading Spanish companies in their respective sectors: Dcoop (Málaga), an agri-food cooperative with more than 75,000 members; Persán (Seville), a European leader in cleaning and home care products; and Cosentino (Almería), a global leader in innovative surfaces for architecture and design. All of them represent business models that are advancing towards more efficient resource use and sustainable production.
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, opened the 3rd edition by highlighting the importance of bringing Spanish companies closer to the EU and showcasing their experience. Following the welcome, Cristina González (Persán), Juan Carlos Vega (Dcoop), and Jorge Cuervo (Cosentino) presented their business models and outlined the challenges their companies face, such as regulatory fragmentation, the complexity of funding schemes, and the impact of climate requirements.
During the first meeting, with Luis Planas, member of the cabinet of Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, he emphasized that the circular economy is already a priority for European competitiveness and outlined upcoming European Commission initiatives, including a new Circular Economy Act. The companies shared their different perspectives on bureaucracy, regulatory differences, and waste management, offering varied insights on how to address these challenges.
The agenda continued with a lunch debate with Catalina de Miguel, Delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Brussels, who explained the role of the Delegation within European institutions and its relationship with the Committee of the Regions. During the meeting, she detailed how this representation operates and the actions carried out to defend and promote Andalusia’s interests in the EU.
The group then met at the European Parliament (EP) with Isabel Benjumea, Member of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party, who addressed the “Omnibus IV” simplification package and highlighted the importance of defining mid-cap companies, as businesses explained during the session that this segment often faces financing difficulties and barriers to growth.
The day continued with a meeting with Pia Nieminen, Senior Policy Adviser at the European Investment Bank (EIB), who outlined the priorities of the new EIB Group Water Resilience Programme, aimed at strengthening resilient water infrastructure, supporting municipalities and companies through various financial instruments, and maintaining European leadership in water technologies. She also explained how the EIB combines long-term loans with technical advisory services and how these investments align with the EU’s climate, digital, and cohesion priorities.
To close the first day, the group attended a welcome dinner with the Ambassador of Spain to Belgium, José María Rodríguez Coso, and María Ortiz Aguilar, Head Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office. During the meeting, the role of the Embassy and the Economic Office in promoting relations between Spain and Belgium was highlighted, noting Belgium’s strategic importance due to its location and its status as the main seat of the European Union. This makes it a key reference point for Spanish companies seeking proximity to EU decision-making centres and access to northern and central European markets.
The second day began with a meeting with María Martín Prat, Deputy Director-General at the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security of the European Commission, who provided an overview of the current international trade context. She addressed tariffs with third countries—including China and the United States—the need to strengthen the single market, and the status of the EU’s latest trade agreements with partners such as Mercosur, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and India.
Subsequently, the group met with officials responsible for Spain’s Recovery and Resilience Plan within the European Commission’s Task Force on Reforms and Investments. Companies highlighted the difficulties in implementing funds within the established timeframe, while the discussion focused on the scope and ambition of the Spanish plan, also noting the strong performance of programmes such as Kit Digital and other initiatives linked to NextGenerationEU funds.
The group also held a meeting with Juan Ignacio Zoido, Member of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party, who addressed EU trade policy, including tariff issues, and shared his views on the evolution and challenges of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The 3rd edition concluded with a lunch debate attended by José Carlos García de Quevedo, Economic Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU, and Lina Gálvez Muñoz, Member of the European Parliament from the S&D Group. The discussion covered topics such as InvestEU, the need to simplify processes for businesses, the promotion of research and innovation, and the importance of strengthening European cohesion in the face of the current geopolitical context.