EuroCham Vietnam’s Brussels mission: strengthening Europe-Vietnam ties

EuroCham Vietnam held a highly productive two-day mission to Brussels on 2-3 July.  This annual EuroCham trip is our golden opportunity to amplify our members’ voices, tackle their most pressing challenges, and raise awareness for our upcoming Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2024.

Led by Chairman Dominik Meichle, and joined by H.E. EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier, the delegation engaged in high-level discussions with European Commission officials on a wide range of issues vital to both regions.

The whole delegation included:

• EuroCham Chairman Dominik Meichle
• Vice-Chairman Jean-Jacques Bouflet
• Advisory Board Member Horst Geicke
• Executive Director Delphine Rousselet
• EuroCham Advocacy Manager Diep Truong
• Co-Chair of our Digital Sector Committee, Bruno Sivanandan
• Chairman of our Food, Aqua, & Agriculture Sector Committee, Paul-Antoine Croizé
• Vice-Chairman of our Green Growth Sector Committee and Head of its Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Working Group, Dinh Nguyen Phan
• Vice-Chairman of IQMED Aleksandrs Parfjonovs
• Director of Pharma Group Thuy Nguyen
• Bayer Vietnam CFO Maximillian Rummer

Day 1: The first day began with a whirlwind of meetings, focusing on key areas such as fisheries, trade, international partnerships, and diplomacy:

• Meeting with the Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius & DG MARE (Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries):  We met with Roberto Cesari (Head of Unit for IUU Fisheries Policy) to discuss how we can strengthen collaboration with the EU for sustainable fisheries in Vietnam. Key topics included addressing Vietnam’s “yellow card” status for illegal fishing, overcoming implementation and enforcement challenges, and exploring solutions.
• Meeting with the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis & DG TRADE (Directorate-General for Trade): We engaged with Michael Hager (Head of Cabinet), and Kevin Keary (Policy Coordinator) to tackle challenges in the pharmaceutical sector. Our discussions focused on improving market access, addressing regulatory delays, and resolving pricing concerns. We also called for the timely implementation of the EVFTA and Pharma Law to streamline processes and create a fairer environment.
• Meeting with the Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen & DG INTPA (Directorate-General for International Partnerships): We joined Taneli Lahti (Head of Cabinet), Pēteris Ustubs (Director C for Middle East, Asia, Pacific), and Olai Voionmaa (Cabinet Member in Charge of Asia) to discuss Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), energy sector reforms, and ESG disclosures.
• Meeting with the Cabinet of Vice President Josep Borrell: We met with Francisco Fontán (Head of Cabinet to High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell) to explore how EuroCham can support the upcoming visit of the HRVP to Vietnam. We also discussed strategies for further strengthening the EU-Vietnam strategic partnership.
• Meeting with DG AGRI (Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development): We joined Luis Carazo Jiménez (Acting Director of International Affairs) and Raimondo Serra (Deputy Head of Unit in Charge of Asia) to cultivate a shared vision for Vietnam’s agricultural future. Our conversations focused on empowering agroecology, organic production, a holistic “one-health” approach, and financing to fuel sustainable development in Vietnam.
• Meeting with DG CONNECT (Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology): We met with Director General Roberto Viola to tackle the crucial issue of data protection. Key topics included aligning Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Decree with the EU’s GDPR, navigating the complexities of dual compliance, and fostering exciting new collaborations within the dynamic semiconductor industry.
• Meeting at the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the EU: Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao graciously hosted us at the Vietnamese Embassy, where we engaged in a productive dialogue on a range of topics. Our discussions focused on deepening EU-Vietnam relations, maximising the benefits of the EVFTA and EVIPA agreements, and addressing the economic concerns of our valued members. A heartfelt thank you to Ambassador Thao and the Vietnamese Embassy for their warm hospitality.

Day 2: The second day of the mission focused heavily on environmental regulations, sustainable trade, and energy collaboration:

 

• Meeting with BUSINESSEUROPE: We met with Luisa Santos (Deputy Director General) to discuss regulatory impact and business strategies under new EU environmental regulations.
• Meeting with AMFORI: We engaged with Kathy Roussel (Head of Advocacy & Engagement) and Stuart Newman (Senior Legal Advisor) to deep dive into the impact of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) on Vietnamese businesses, manufacturers within European businesses’ direct value chains, and European FDIs in Vietnam.
• Meeting with DG ENER (Directorate General for Energy): We joined Mathhew  Matthew Baldwin (Deputy Director General) to explore collaborative opportunities in the energy sector and discuss strategies for sustainable energy development and cooperation between the EU and Vietnam.
• Meeting with EEAS (European External Action Service): We met with Tibor Stelbaczky (Principal Advisor on Energy Diplomacy) and Anthony Agotha (Special Envoy for Climate and Environment Diplomacy) to discuss progress on Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), strategies to overcome investment barriers and political complexities, innovative approaches to incentivize climate action.
• Meeting with Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius & DG ENV (Directorate General for Environment):  We engaged with Davor Percan (Head of Unit for Regional & Bilateral Environmental Cooperation/Acting Director for Green Diplomacy & Multilateralism) to address pressing environmental concerns in circular economy such as challenges in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Vietnam, water management and  blue-green infrastructure, sustainable cities and buildings, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)’s effect on Vietnamese exports, and EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)’s  impact on Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

Throughout the trip, the EuroCham delegation, comprising leaders from various sectors and committees, demonstrated their commitment to fostering stronger EU-Vietnam ties. The mission provided a platform to address challenges, explore opportunities, and lay the groundwork for future collaboration in areas such as trade, sustainability, technology, and diplomacy.

As the delegation returns to Vietnam, EuroCham looks forward to translating these productive discussions into concrete actions that will benefit both regions. The success of this mission underscores the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Vietnam in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future.

EuroCham Vietnam extends its gratitude to all European Commission officials, delegates, and partners who contributed to the success of this mission, as well as to Air France for their support.