Trade: In Brussels, The British Chamber of Commerce | EU & Belgium selected the best candidates to renew its Board of Directors .
At the moment crucial of United Kingdom, The British Chamber of Commerce | EU & Belgium choose appointed two Business and financial keys and brilliant persons to face to a huge Brexit challenge: woman and man for its Board of Directors. Louise Harvey, the first woman who is the new Honorary Treasurer and David Reed, is the Chair of the Business, Trade and Investment Committee.
Who are they?
Louise Harvey is the new Honorary Treasurer. She is the first female President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium in its history in 2001. Plus, she is awarded an OBE for services to British business in Belgium. During thirteen years she served as a diplomat to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Malaysia, Tanzania and the Netherlands and worked on EU affairs in the F.C.O in London. The Queen Elizabeth rewarded her an MVO for services in Tanzania. In Brussels, She run a company as co-founded Blueprint Partners and then to FTI Consulting. Over all, She was very active in public affairs issues in Brussels for almost 25 years.
David Reed is the new Chair of the Business, Trade and Investment Committee. He has a longstanding commitment to Financial Affairs in Brussels as National Expert at the European Commission in DG Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union and run the European Parliament Financial Service Forum as founder-Director. David gained experience in the International Strategy Team in the Chairman’s Office at the Financial Conduct Authority in London as Senior Partner of the Financial Policy Advisers Network at KREAB.
Daniel Dalton, BritCham Chief Executive congratulated them:
Both Louise and David are hugely respected in Brussels. They have significant experience and a deep understanding of the needs of businesses in Belgium and Europe. We are delighted to welcome Louise and David to the Board. Their experience and knowledge will help the Chamber as it develops to become the key bridge for businesses seeking to trade in and between the UK and the EU
Beyond, The question of Brexit and the UK-EU relations stay in mind
At the moment crucial of United Kingdom, The British Chamber of Commerce | EU & Belgium, the new board directors have to face a huge Brexit challenge of EU and UK negotiation. This week as many weeks, the negotiators, Lord Frost and Mr Barnier met in Brussels. However, this time, they seemed to be positive in the thorny situation of Brexit.
Lord Frost said “We have agreed that a basis for negotiations with the EU and Michel Barnier has been re-established,” Lord Frost, the UK’s top Brexit official, said as he rebooted trade talks.
In the other side, Mr Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, added:
“We will seek the necessary compromises on both sides. In order to do our utmost to reach an agreement, we will do so right up until the last day that it’s possible to do so.
The French Negotiator has to go to London next week for a discussion as said the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson “Trade talks are over” but “If not there is no point coming,” the PM’s spokesman said. “Trade talks are over. The EU effectively ended them.
In Brussels, The British Chamber of Commerce to the EU believes that the future EU-UK economic and trading relationship is of the highest priority amongst all aspects needing to be agreed upon in the aftermath of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020.
The economic relationship between the EU and the UK is worth 648 billion pounds. This has been developed over a period of 46 years, and should be accommodated in any transition to a new model. To this end the EU and the UK will need to set the rules on the overall governance of the future relationship as well as provisions aiming to ensure a level-playing field between the two markets.
Source: The Brittish Chamber of Commerce | EU & Belgium and European Commission
Hafida BENYACOUB independent journalist
