European Chapter Wraps Up Its Year in Bavaria.

• Author: Maggiore, Anthony J.

The following report was submitted by Anthony J. Maggiore, who is 1999-2000 President of TEIs European Chapter.

TEI's European Chapter capped a successful year with a May 9-10 meeting in Munich, Germany, organized by Compaq and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The meeting was a hit with the 75 registrants, particularly the session on e-commerce. Munich provided a wonderful backdrop with lovely weather and fantastic scenery.

Compaq enlisted its salespeople to set the stage with a presentation highlighting the effect and growth of the Internet, including B2C and B2B sales. PwC invited Professor Albert Angehrn of INSEAD, the European Institute of Business Administration, who captivated the audience with insights about the future of the Internet and opened some eyes with views about thinking "outside the box" to compete in the Internet age.

This meeting was the first time the European Chapter incorporated break-out sessions into its technical meeting. There were two workshops. During the morning workshop, four groups were given a case study involving a European-based record company wishing to rationalize the tax structure of its business, which included attracting artists, recording their music, and distributing that music within the European Union. That afternoon the four groups went to work on a second case study on establishing a centralized purchasing operation for a European-based group of companies in order to gain income and indirect tax advantages. This workshop strategy, which was moderated by PwC, enlivened the session, drawing everyone into the process and the subsequent presentation of the results.

One of the important goals of the Munich meeting was to ensure a seamless transition of the European Chapter's Officers and Directors. Chapter members unanimously approved the nominees listed on this page.

During the Chapter business session, current President Tony Maggiore announced that groundwork is already being laid for the four regularly scheduled meetings in the upcoming fiscal year. Incoming President Jim Diller is already organizing these meetings with the companies that have volunteered, but it is not too late for companies to host a meeting. There are plenty of interesting topics for the European Chapter to address, including harmful tax competition and indirect taxes (which will be organized in cooperation with TEI International Tax Committee's new subcommittee on customs and indirect taxes). Efforts are also underway to continue...