On 25th to 28th June 2012, the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong participated in the 2012 General Meeting of the European Business Organisations Worldwide Network (EBO) hosted by Directorate General Enterprise and Industry (DG) of the European Commission in Brussels.

The EBO Worldwide Network helps to create more favourable conditions for European business and businesses in Third Countries i.e. Non-EU countries. EBOs are private entities, run by business people in non-European countries.The EBO Worldwide Network extends to 24 European organisations (Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations, etc.) based around the world, in the aim to boost trade links, multilateral and bilateral trade dialogues and dissemination of EU related information between the European Commission and the host countries.

The meeting gathered representatives of the EBO Worldwide Network: Mr. H. Igityan (Armenia), Mr. J. Collins (Australia), Mr. R. Pacheco Neto (Brazil), Ms. C. Mena (Chile), Ms. F. Hadjisotiriou (China), Mr. D. Ristovski (The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Ms. Talida Goean (Hong Kong), Mr. V. Verma (India), Mr. P. Jonasson (Indonesia), Mrs. J. Kussidi (Kazakhstan), Mr. R. Bruesseler (Laos), Ms. M. Saneri (Malaysia), Ms. S. Radu & Ms. M. Rufa (Moldovia), Mr. F. Schauff & Ms. O. Zueva (Russia), Ms. N. De Mel (Sri Lanka), Mr. F. Hoeglund (Taiwan), Mr. H. Vanijprabha (Thailand), Ms. T. Shulga (Ukraine), Mr. Paul Jewell (Vietnam).

Representatives from the Directorate General and the European Parliament included:

• Didier Herbert, Acting Director, Coordination, planning and international affairs (ENTR A)
• Christian Siebert, Head of Unit, International affairs (ENTR/A2)
• Christos Kyriatzis, Deputy Head of Unit, International affairs (ENTR/A2)
• Serafin Gonzales Sanchez, Policy Officer - India - ASEAN - South and South-East Asia - Pacific, International affairs (ENTR/A2)
• Antonios Fysekidis, Policy Officer - Enterprise Europe Network, Business cooperation and support network (ENTR E2)
• Nicolas Dorgeret, European Parliament
• Thierry Rommel, International Aid / Cooperation Officer, Geographical Coordination Asia and Pacific (DG DEVCO)
• Vittorio Tonutti, Acting (&Deputy) Head of Unit, Regional Programmes Latin America and Caribbean (DG DEVCO)
• Martin Pilser, Administrator in Market Access Team, Market Access, Industry, Energy and Raw Materials (DG TRADE)
• E. Pedersen, Financial Officer, Public Diplomacy and Election Observation (FPI)

The meeting agenda included:

• EU Strategy for Internationalisation of SMEs - Missions for Growth, European Enterprise Network, Business Support Centres in Third Countries
• EBO priorities in Third Markets - Mapping Business Support Services
• EBO Meeting Reports - ASEAN-EU Business Summit, ASEM Meeting, EBO Global Meeting Kuala Lumpur
• Forum on EU Trade Policies & Initiatives - EU Market Access Database, Strategy on IP protection, etc
• EBO Trade Policy & Working Group Reports - FTA & Regional Trade issues, IPR, Energy & Renewables
• EBO Operational Best Practice Workshop
• Meeting with the European Parliament