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KBA Europe 10th Anniversary General Assembly Held
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The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) announced on the 29th that its Brussels branch held the 'European Korean Business Association (KBA Europe) General Assembly' on the 27th (local time) in Frankfurt, Germany. The meeting marked the 10th anniversary of KBA Europe’s establishment. Ninety Korean businesspeople active in 10 European countries attended. KBA Europe, founded in 2013, is a lobbying organization for Korean companies operating in Europe, with about 390 member companies.

Na Sang-won, chairman of KBA Europe, stated in his opening remarks that KBA Europe, together with KITA, has submitted six position papers to the European Union (EU) Commission and member states. He noted that the EU has been rapidly introducing new regulations that impose significant burdens on companies this year. Chairman Na said, "This appears to be a move to swiftly implement new regulations ahead of next year’s EU parliamentary elections and the selection of the Commission President. It is also interpreted as being influenced by major member states’ policy trends, such as France’s electric vehicle subsidy system. These developments are expected to have a significant impact on Korean companies."

Ko Kyung-seok, Consul General in Frankfurt, delivered a congratulatory speech, saying, "Despite difficult conditions, exports from Korean companies to the EU are increasing, centered on electric vehicles and secondary battery materials. We ask KBA Europe to strive to maintain the competitiveness of Korean companies even as the EU trade environment changes."

Kim Ki-hyun, head of KITA’s Global Cooperation Headquarters, said in his welcoming remarks, "Recently, as the carbon border adjustment mechanism transition period has begun, Korean companies operating factories by importing steel, aluminum, and bolts within the EU are facing increased difficulties, and the rules on foreign subsidies are adding burdens to companies participating in the EU procurement market. Next year, the newly established Warsaw branch in Poland and the Brussels branch, which serves as the KBA Europe secretariat, will work together to resolve the difficulties faced by Korean companies."

Attendees of the Korea Business Association Europe (KBA Europe) General Assembly, hosted by the Korea International Trade Association Brussels Office on the 27th (local time) in Frankfurt, Germany, pose for a commemorative photo.
From the fourth person on the left in the front row: Lee Hyuk, CEO of BTS Technology; Na Sang-won, Chairman of KBA Europe; Ko Kyung-seok, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Frankfurt; Kim Ki-hyun, Head of Global Cooperation Division at KITA; Yoo Hyun-joon, Professor of Architecture at Hongik University.
[Photo by KITA]

The general assembly participants emphasized the need to closely monitor policy changes as the new EU Commission will be formed next year. Choi Se-na, Minister Counselor at the Korean Mission to the EU, said, "Since the current EU Commission, which was launched in 2019, will end its term next year, Korean companies should closely watch the resulting policy changes."

In a practical presentation, opinions were expressed that preparations must be made as the penetration rate of electric vehicles in Europe is expected to approach 100% by 2035. Lee Hyuk, CEO of BTS Technology, said, "The Battery Act, which mandates the collection of used electric vehicle batteries and the recycling of a certain percentage of key raw materials such as cobalt, lead, lithium, and nickel, will be fully enforced starting next year. Once the Core Raw Materials Act is introduced, battery recycling within the EU is expected to accelerate."

Jo Bit-na, Secretary General of KBA Europe and head of KITA’s Brussels branch, said, "We must actively express opinions to ensure that the positions of Korean companies are reflected in EU policies. We will continue to convey Korean companies’ views to the EU Commission and Parliament."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.