During the opening of the seminar " Europe at the Crossroads ," organized by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce at the Menéndez Pelayo International University ( UIMP ) in Santander, José Luis Bonet emphasized the need for companies, particularly SMEs, to strengthen their presence in global markets . Bonet stated that "Spain has made great strides since the transition to democracy, and part of that success is due to internationalization. Many SMEs are not globalized, and they should be."
Despite the context of tariff tensions fueled by policies like those of Donald Trump , Bonet expressed optimism about the opportunities that remain for businesses. "Higher tariffs don't preclude opportunities, and there are sectors that will continue to offer opportunities," he noted. He encouraged companies to pursue their internationalization strategy "prudently, but they must do so. And they will if they receive support, guidance, and advice; Chambers of Commerce can be of great help, especially when there is external 'noise.'"
The first day of the seminar featured a keynote address by Josep Borrell , former Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Borrell addressed the "Clashes and Challenges Facing Europe ," highlighting the complexity of the current geopolitical landscape. In his analysis, Borrell pointed to the difficulty European states face in meeting the 5% of GDP defense spending target set by the last NATO Summit, and underscored the importance of technological supremacy . "The future of the world depends on who wins the technological battle," he stated, noting that "the United States spends more on research and development than China , but China, in turn, spends more than Europe."
The opening day also included a dialogue between Mira Milosevich , senior researcher at the Elcano Royal Institute, and John Rutherford , president of the European Affairs Committee of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and director of Institutional Relations at BBVA.
The seminar, which runs until July 11, will continue with presentations by high-level experts. On Tuesday, Margaritis Schinàs , former Vice-President of the European Commission, is expected to speak on EU governance and regulation. Throughout the week, other speakers will include Julián Conthe , Director General of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business; Judith Arnal , Senior Research Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Independent Advisor to the Bank of Spain; and Ángela Pérez , Chair and CEO of Cofides, a partner organization of the course.
The course is directed by Rafael Myro , emeritus professor of Applied Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid, and Gonzalo Solana, director of the Nebrija Santander Chair in Internationalization of Companies, with the secretariat of Raúl Mínguez, director of Studies at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
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