Eurochambres
Encyclopedia
EUROCHAMBRES is the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The association is one of the largest business representative organisation in Brussels
, representing over 20 million companies through its network of 2000 Chambers of Commerce and Industry. About 93% of these enterprises are SMEs, of which 56% are small (1-49 employees) and 37% are medium sized (50-249 employees). Over 92% of them are based in the EU27
EUROCHAMBRES' direct members are national associations of Chambers of Commerce based in the 27 EU countries, EFTA
countries, and some Eastern European, Western Balkans and Mediterranean countries.
EUROCHAMBRES represents, serves and promotes European Chambers of Commerce and Industry through lobbying , development of projects and services to members.
the European level and to form opinions regarding the modifications to be made to commercial legislation. An important objective of the Conférence was also to bring closer competences in order to provide an example of the European cooperation of the highest quality level. The Conférence Permanente held its first assembly in Strasbourg on 28 February 1958. Initial members were national association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Belgium
, France
, Germany
, Italy
, Luxembourg
and Netherlands
. The year 1961 saw the creation of the first technical committees and 4 new members joined. A permanent Secretariat was created in 1977 (before the various countries assumed the role in turns).
EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry was registered as an International non profit organisation in Belgium (Aisbl- Association internationale à but non lucratif) in 1977.
The network expanded progressively to 45 national associations plus two transnational organisations of Chambers from an enlarged Europe.
In 2008, EUROCHAMBRES organised the first "European Parliament of Enterprises" that gathered some 774 Eurpopean businesses of all sizes and from all sectors in the European Parliament
hemicycle in Brussels. The opening session was led by Hans-Gert Pöttering
, President of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Hervé Novelli
, French Minister of State for Business, Trade, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Tourism and Services and Pierre Simon, then President of EUROCHAMBRES. Three sessions of debates and votes followed, each in the presence of an MEP and a European Commissioner.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, representing over 20 million companies through its network of 2000 Chambers of Commerce and Industry. About 93% of these enterprises are SMEs, of which 56% are small (1-49 employees) and 37% are medium sized (50-249 employees). Over 92% of them are based in the EU27
EUROCHAMBRES' direct members are national associations of Chambers of Commerce based in the 27 EU countries, EFTA
EFTA
EFTA may refer to:* European Family Therapy Association, an NGO.* European Fair Trade Association, an association of eleven Fair Trade importers in nine European countries....
countries, and some Eastern European, Western Balkans and Mediterranean countries.
EUROCHAMBRES represents, serves and promotes European Chambers of Commerce and Industry through lobbying , development of projects and services to members.
History
EUROCHAMBRES was founded 28 February 1958 as the "Conférence Permanente des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de la CEE" by six members with the mission to promote the views of Chamber organisations on the unification of national legislation atthe European level and to form opinions regarding the modifications to be made to commercial legislation. An important objective of the Conférence was also to bring closer competences in order to provide an example of the European cooperation of the highest quality level. The Conférence Permanente held its first assembly in Strasbourg on 28 February 1958. Initial members were national association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The year 1961 saw the creation of the first technical committees and 4 new members joined. A permanent Secretariat was created in 1977 (before the various countries assumed the role in turns).
EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry was registered as an International non profit organisation in Belgium (Aisbl- Association internationale à but non lucratif) in 1977.
The network expanded progressively to 45 national associations plus two transnational organisations of Chambers from an enlarged Europe.
In 2008, EUROCHAMBRES organised the first "European Parliament of Enterprises" that gathered some 774 Eurpopean businesses of all sizes and from all sectors in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
hemicycle in Brussels. The opening session was led by Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering is a German conservative politician , and was the President of the European Parliament from January 2007 to July 2009...
, President of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Hervé Novelli
Hervé Novelli
Hervé Novelli is a French politician of Italian origin, and a past member of the UDF group. He was a deputé in the Assemblée Nationale for the Indre-et-Loire département from 2002 to 2007, having previously been a député from 1993-1997...
, French Minister of State for Business, Trade, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Tourism and Services and Pierre Simon, then President of EUROCHAMBRES. Three sessions of debates and votes followed, each in the presence of an MEP and a European Commissioner.