Antwerp World Diamond Centre

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Registration as it was on 17 Aug 2016
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Overview

WARNING: As this organisation lists one or more EP accredited lobbyists, it may not be probable that its lobbying costs are lower than €10,000.

Lobbying Costs

9,999€

Financial year: Jan 2015 - Dec 2015

Lobbyists (Full time equivalent)

0.25 Fte (1)

Lobbyists with EP accreditation

0

High-level Commission meetings

3

Lobbying Costs over the years

  • Info

    Antwerp World Diamond Centre   (AWDC)

    EU Transparency Register

    23256548246-36 First registered on 05 Mar 2012

    Goals / Remit

    AWDC is intended to stimulate, promote, and represent the interests and support the diamond trade in Belgium and in the Antwerp region in particular, as well as the promotion of the international aura of Antwerp as a world centre for diamonds and precious stones.

    The object of AWDC more specifically comprises:
    a) Acting as a body representing the interests to the Belgian, foreign and international governments (and non-governmental organizations) regarding the diamond trade and diamond industry located in Belgium;
    b) Promoting the trade and industry through sharing and distributing publication material, promotional material and statistics through all kinds of media, setting up exhibitions and trade missions, attending trade shows, all both in Belgium and, to a significant extent, internationally;
    c) Helping and advising on all social , economic and financial matters in relation to the import and export of all kinds of diamonds and precious stones through "Diamond Office", as well as supporting the operations of the "Diamond Office" in close cooperation with the Belgian government;
    d) Encouraging scientific and technological research into diamonds and precious stones, as well as coordinating and bringing together scientific and technical documentation, regarding both decorative and industrial diamonds and precious stones;
    e) Promoting a healthy social policy regarding the acquisition and training of the workforce, according to the financial needs of the industry;
    f) Promoting sustainability and transparency within the diamond industry, in Antwerp as well as on a global level.

    Main EU files targeted

    - EU Foreign Affairs / External Relations / Trade Policy
    - Kimberley Process
    - European Commission initiative on sustainable sourcing of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas
    - AML Directive
    - Anti Tax Avoidance Directive

    Address

    Head Office
    Hoveniersstraat, 22
    Antwerpen 2018
    BELGIUM
  • People

    Total lobbyists declared

    1

    Employment timeLobbyists
    25%1

    Lobbyists (Full time equivalent)

    0.25

    Lobbyists with EP accreditation

    All Lobbyists with EP accreditation over time

    0 accreditations were / are live (in bold) for the selected state of 17 Aug 2016

    Name Start date End Date
    Ari EPSTEIN 17 Sep 2016 16 Sep 2017
    Mr Michaël Geelhand de Merxem 17 Sep 2016 16 Sep 2017
    Karla BASSELIER 17 Sep 2016 16 Sep 2017
    Filip Buntinx 17 Sep 2016 16 Sep 2017
    Mr Nick De Vlaminck 17 Sep 2016 16 Sep 2017
    Karla BASSELIER 02 Aug 2014 31 Jul 2015
    Karla BASSELIER 02 Aug 2014 27 Jan 2015
    Mr Michaël Geelhand de Merxem 31 Jul 2014 29 Jul 2015
    Ari EPSTEIN 05 Mar 2012 02 Apr 2013
    Mark VAN BOCKSTAEL 05 Mar 2012 02 Apr 2013
    Karla BASSELIER 05 Mar 2012 02 Apr 2013
    Dries HOLVOET 05 Mar 2012 02 Apr 2013

    Complementary Information

    The Public Affairs Department of AWDC has 5 FTE (1 chief officer, 3 officers, 1 management assistant). The activities at the level of the EU are marginal, as the Department operates on many different levels (city, province, region, federal government, European institutions, foreign governments/embassies, international organizations and industry associations ...).

    Person in charge of EU relations

    Ms Karla Basselier (Chief Officer - Head Public Affairs & Business Development (rough))

    Person with legal responsibility

    Mr Ari Epstein (CEO)

  • Categories

    Category

    II - In-house lobbyists and trade/business/professional associations

    Subcategory

    Trade and business associations

  • Networking

    Affiliation

    See AWDC Sustainability Report 2014, page 18 (https://www.awdc.be/sites/awdc/files/SustaibabilityReport.pdf)

    Member organisations

    None declared

  • Financial Data

    Closed financial year

    Jan 2015 - Dec 2015

    Lobbying costs for closed financial year

    9,999€

    Other financial info

    As a private foundation, the AWDC has no members.

    The diamond trade is subject to very strict regulations in Belgium. For instance, companies have to be registered with the Ministry (Federal Public Service) of Economy in order to be able to trade diamonds internationally.

    The paperwork and certification of all imports and exports of all types of diamonds (rough, polished, powder ...) is done at one single point in Belgium: Diamond Office. This is a department of the AWDC, in which we collaborate with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finances (Customs). Customs clearance is done by the Ministry of Finances. All parcels are subsequently checked by 18 diamond experts, which operate under supervision of the Ministry of Economy. They check the weight, the classification (HS Code) and the value of every parcel (100%), and compare these with the data on the trade documents. The Kimberley Process Certificate, which is mandatory for all shipments of rough diamonds, is verified by the Ministry of Economy. The Ministry also issues the Kimberley Process Certificates for all shipments of rough diamonds that are to be exported to countries outside the EU.

    For this service - which benefits the trading companies, increases transparency and to a certain extent prevents the abuse of diamond trade for illegitimate purposes such as money laundering - a handling fee (retribution), based on the value of the shipment, is charged to the diamond companies. This is the only source of revenue (core financing) for the AWDC.

    The AWDC sometimes charges a fee for certain specific activities (i.e. participation in trade missions abroad), but these are merely used to cover the expenses of the activities, and are not used as core financing.

  • EU Structures

    Groups (European Commission)

    None

    ACC

    None

    Groups (European Parliament)

    None

    Communication activities

    None

    Other activities

    None declared

  • Meetings

    Meetings

    3 meetings found. Download meetings

    The list below only covers meetings held since November 2014 with commissioners, their cabinet members or directors-general at the European Commission; other lobby meetings with lower-level staff may have taken place, but the European Commission doesn't proactively publish information about these meetings. For more information about which commissioner is responsible for which portfolio, check out this link: https://commissioners.ec.europa.eu/index_en All information below comes from European Commission web pages.

    • Date 01 Apr 2020 Location VTC
      Subject Exchange on Kimberly Process
      DG Foreign Policy Instruments
      Attending
      • Hilde Hardeman (Head of Service)
    • Date 02 Jul 2019 Location Brussels
      Subject Follow up to June 2019 KP intersessional
      DG Foreign Policy Instruments
      Attending
      • Hilde Hardeman (Head of Service)
    • Date 17 Jul 2017 Location Brussels, Belgium
      Subject Preparation of EU chairmanship of the Kimberley process
      DG Foreign Policy Instruments
      Attending
      • Hilde Hardeman (Head of Service)
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