There are days in Brussels that remind you why you do what you do. The Trade Champions Annual Meeting at the European Commission — held in the emblematic Walter Hallstein room — was one of those moments. A day where responsibility, purpose and European ambition converged.
This year, TuComex stood as the only Spanish private company invited to participate, and I had the honor of attending as EU Trade Champion, representing the perspective of Spanish companies at the highest level of EU trade policy.
Being there is not symbolic. It is strategic. And it matters.
A High-Level Meeting at a Critical Time for Europe
The session opened with two key institutional voices:
- Ditte Juul Jørgensen, the new Director-General of DG Trade
- Sofía Muñoz, Head of Unit
They set the tone: Europe is redefining its trade policy in a world marked by geopolitical tension, supply chain vulnerabilities and the urgent need to strengthen competitiveness and economic security.
Then came the highlight of the day: the intervention of Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
His message was clear and powerful:
- The EU remains the world’s largest trading bloc, ahead of China and the United States.
- Europe must reduce dependencies, reinforce the Single Market and accelerate regulatory alignment.
- The future of EU trade will be shaped by strategic partnerships with Canada, Mercosur, Mexico, ASEAN, Australia, Korea and others.
- Stability with the US and balance with China will be essential pillars of Europe’s global positioning.
Listening to this from inside the Commission — not as an observer, but as a contributor — gives a different perspective. It reinforces the responsibility of ensuring that Spain’s economic voice is heard.
A Personal Milestone: DG Grow at the Table
One of the most meaningful achievements of this meeting was the participation of Mary Veronica Tovsak Pleterski, Director for Single Market, Compliance and Enforcement (DG Grow).
Her presence was not accidental. I had been advocating for months for DG Grow to join this forum, because industrial competitiveness and trade policy must be aligned.
Her intervention was exceptional. She presented the new One Europe, One Market Agenda, a roadmap to 2027 focused on:
- Removing internal barriers
- Supporting SMEs
- Accelerating digital transformation
- Addressing the “Terrible 10” obstacles that companies face across the EU
Having DG Grow actively engaged was a real step forward — and I am proud to have contributed to making it happen.
A Defining Moment: Delivering the TuComex Paper to Commissioner Šefčovič
One of the most significant moments of the day was handing over to Commissioner Šefčovič the document:
“Spain 2030 – 15 Engines that connect resilience, innovation and European leadership”
This Paper is the result of the work carried out during the VI TuComex International Congress – Brussels 2026, enriched by the contributions of 15 strategic sectors and reinforced during the III International Professional Salon in Madrid.
It is a rigorous, forward-looking and actionable proposal for Europe — from Spain.
The Paper was also delivered to:
- The representative of DG Grow
- Senior officials from DG Trade participating in the Paper as Sofía Muñoz Albarrán, Peter Berg and Chris Ruff.
This is not just a gesture. It is a direct contribution to the European Commission’s reflection on competitiveness, trade and industrial strategy.
The Paper is available for download here: https://tucomex.com/descarga-el-paper-del-vi-congreso-de-tucomex-en-bruselas/
Why This Meeting Matters for Spain
Because Europe is redefining:
- its trade architecture
- its industrial competitiveness
- its supply chain resilience
- and its global alliances
And Spain must be part of that conversation.
My work as EU Trade Champion, as CEO of TuComex, and as a professional who analyses EU trade agreements from Brussels and for major Spanish media, has a clear purpose:
To ensure that Spanish companies have a voice where decisions are made.
This meeting was a decisive step in that direction.
Looking Ahead
I leave Brussels with renewed conviction:
- Spain has strategic value for Europe.
- Our companies are innovative, resilient and essential to the EU’s future.
- And TuComex will continue building bridges between them and the European institutions.
We are exactly where we need to be. And this is only the beginning.