The Palau de la Música in Valencia has inaugurated the Eurochambres Congress 2026, the first edition in Spain of the European chamber event. It brings together 91 chambers from 38 countries and around 200 representatives to discuss competitiveness and SMEs.
The Palau de la Música in Valencia has hosted the inauguration of the Eurochambres Congress 2026, the most important event of the European chamber network, which is being held in Spain for the first time. Organised by Eurochambres and Cámara Valencia, the congress gathers 91 chambers of commerce from 38 countries and around 200 representatives, according to moncloa.com.
The Spanish delegation consists of 25 chambers of commerce, making Valencia the epicentre of the debate on European competitiveness during these sessions. The inaugural session featured speeches from the president of Eurochambres, Vladimír Dlouhý; the president of Cámara España, José Luis Bonet; the Minister of Finance, Arcadi España; and former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, president of the Jacques Delors Institute.
The true backbone of the European economy is SMEs
Bonet argued that chambers of commerce are "the common home of businesses" and emphasised that Europe is facing profound changes in energy, supplies, and demographics. In his speech, the president of Cámara España added that "Europe must believe again in its capacity to compete, lead, and innovate."
The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, asserted Spain's European character and placed SMEs at the centre of the debate: "There are companies as large as a country, and that's fine, but no country can stand without its SMEs." Spain advocates for an ambitious Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034 against those calling for cuts. "There are voices asking for reductions; some think that the response to a more hostile world is less budget and weaker institutions," he criticised.
Enrico Letta presented his proposal for a Regime 28, a common legal framework to accelerate administrative processing within the single market without eliminating national legislation of each country. The initiative aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles affecting companies operating in multiple member states.
The chambers of commerce demand a central role in European industrial policy and less administrative burden for SMEs. The event comes at a time of negotiation over the community budget and debate on regulatory simplification. The congress continues in Valencia with working sessions among the attending delegations.
You may also like
