ECCT CEO Freddie Höglund participated in a series of meetings with his counterparts from European chambers of commerce outside the European Union at the biannual gathering of the European Business Organisation Worldwide Network (EBO) in Brussels, Belgium. Over the course of three days from 19-21 June, the heads of chamber secretariats from 49 European chambers abroad provided updates and shared best practices aimed at helping their counterparts to operate more efficiently and productively. The gathering was also the forum to elect a new board of directors for the year ahead. CEO Höglund was elected to the board again after previously having served as Vice Chairman from 2011-2018.

Workshops were held to share best practices on advocacy and stakeholder engagement, boards and governance, financial development and participation in EU projects. CEO Höglund shared the ECCT’s experience in financial development.

Delegates also held meetings with Luisa Santos, Director of BusinessEurope and representatives from the European Commission, including Taneli Lahti, Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships; Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet to European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis; Camilo Villarino, Head of Cabinet to Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles; Antti Karhunen, Director - Sustainable Finance, Investment and Jobs, DG International Partnerships; Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director General and Chief Trade Enforcement Officer for DG Trade and Valere Moutarlier, Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market.