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Newsletter #14 - February 2026

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Newsletter #14 - February 2026

Read the February issue of GENA newsletter

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Newsletter - February 2026

 

Dear GENA Members, 

Take the time to read the latest information about important GENA’s activities and be connected with the most recent initiatives. 

The General Annual Meeting will take place in a month in Barcelona. We are very much looking forward to meeting you again and we are preparing a great agenda ! 

Please note that the Ilunion hotel is now fully booked. However, several nearby hotels have rooms but do not wait too long! 

GENA Annual General Meeting 2026 in Barcelona

The General Annual Meeting will take place on March 25–26, 2026, at the Ilunion Hotel.  

We will start on March 25th at 5.00 pm with a welcome address by Christiaan Van der Valk and an opening speech by Gonzalo Garcia de Castro from the Spanish tax authority.  

A networking dinner will start at 7:00 pm at Inicio restaurant Raco de la Vila. 

Please fill in this survey by March 6th for the menu  https://forms.gle/rgMRxtjHGkRMvNCK6 

On March 26th we will kick-off at 08.30 am with a panel discussion moderated by Charles Hannigan and chapter chairs. The day will feature the traditional sessions with updates on GENA’s main activities, and two sessions dedicated to the working groups. 

The final version of the GAM will be published soon in the Library.  

List of nearby hotels if you did not book your room : 

  1. Hotel Paxton Barcelona 4* 
  1. Acta Voraport 3* 
  1. Holiday Inn Express Barcelona City 22@ by IHG 4* 
  1. Hotel SB Icaria 4* 

Around 15 minutes walking  

  1. NH Barcelona Diagonal Center 3* 
  1. Golden Hotel Barcelona 4* 
  1. Hotel & Spa Villa Olímpic@ Barcelona 4* 

Innovation working group puts IA at the center of e-invoicing

The Innovation Working Group led by Alex and Sebastien aligned on producing a collective, analytical industry report capturing members’ publicly shareable AI initiatives in e-invoicing and identifying cross-industry patterns, risks, and future directions. The report will reflect a unified GENA perspective. 

The report will be structured around key chapters :  

  • Executive context and AI opportunity landscape 
  • Member use cases (internal and client-facing) 
  • Industry patterns and emerging trends 
  • Challenges, risks, and open questions 
  • Forward-looking industry perspectives 
  • Skills and workforce transformation analysis 

Collaborative inputs will be prepared for the in-person session in Barcelona, including categorized AI use cases and an agreed methodology, responsibilities, and timeline. 

Members are invited to join the Innovation Working Group and actively contribute expertise, use cases, and perspectives to shape a high-value, industry-wide view of AI in e-invoicing. Broad participation is essential to ensure the report reflects real market evolution and delivers practical impact ! 

GENA Academy

Session in Dubaï 

GENA is launching its second Academy on e-invoicing, in Dubai on March 30th, from 10.30am to 5.00pm at Park Hyatt Dubaï. 

This one-day event will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest e-invoicing and tax reporting requirements in United Arab Emirates, along with insights into global developments, best practices, and practical implementation.

Participants will gain in-depth technical knowledge on data formats, standards, and Peppol applications, while also benefiting from networking opportunities and experience sharing. 

A special rate of €500 applies for GENA members. 

Corporates :  €600 

Register now via thislink. 

Session in Frankfurt 

GENA is organizing its Academy on e-invoicing, in Frankfurt from April 14 to 16, hosted by Bonpago. 

This three-days event will focus on the evolving landscape of e-invoicing and tax reporting in Germany and the wider European context as well as Peppol. Gain actionable insights into regulatory updates, implementation best practices, and international frameworks. 

Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their expertise in data formats, technical standards, and Peppol integration, while engaging in interactive sessions and networking with experts and peers. 

Special rate for GENA members: €1,000 

Corporates :  €1,200 

Register now via this link. 

In addition, we are pleased to announce a special Peppol day on April 16, from 9:00AM to 5:00PM in association with Peppol.

This one-day seminar will provide a comprehensive explanation of the core principles and latest developments of Peppol.  

Special rate for GENA members: €500 

Corporates : €600Here is thelink to register. 

Please, note that both sessions in Frankfurt will be in German. 

Launch of the APAC Chapter

The next APAC Chapter Meeting is scheduled for  March 10 at 9:00 AM CET / 3:00 PM Singapore time (link). 

  This session is a great opportunity to shape something new and impactful: the first GENA Conference, which we will organize alongside the local Peppol Conference in November. We’re opening the discussion to all GENA members who have an interest in the Asian market — participation is not limited to APAC Chapter members. 

  We’re especially looking for your ideas and input on building an agenda that will attract corporates and make this event a real success. Your perspective and experience can help us create a compelling and valuable program. 

We warmly encourage you to join, share your thoughts, and take part in what we hope will be a lively and productive discussion. 

Benelux chapter kick-off meeting

GENA is exploring the creation of a Benelux GENA chapter to facilitate discussions and resolutions of Benelux-specific challenges and benefiting from the global association’s network. We would like to invite all interested service and solution providers to join the onlinekick-off meeting on March 3rd from 9:00AM to 10:00AM (CET).  

The session will include a short introduction of GENA’s activities followed by an open discussion on specific Benelux needs. 

You can register for the meeting here. 

UK chapter kick-off meeting

GENA (Global Exchange Network Association) invites you to the kick-off meeting of the UK chapter. Join this one-hour discussion online on March 5th at 11:00 am (CET) using thislink. 

The session will be chaired by Marcus Laube and Susie West. They will introduce the objectives and the structure of the chapter. The overall objective is to gather key services providers committed to ensure seamless, secure and interoperable digital transactions and a safer digital trade ecosystem in the region. 

Please also register on GENA website if you want to join this new chapter. 

Call for contributions

We are looking for volunteers to present new mandates and talk about other countries. 

If you are interested, please contact the chairs of the WG. 

We would also like to thank all the recent contributors :  

  • Joanna Chelimala, PPCWG, update on Republic of Ireland’s e-invoicing mandate 
  • Paul Simons, IWG, TC434-EN16931 evolution 
  • Anders Ødegård, SCWG, Peppol Logistics  

Creation of a GENA Marketplace

GENA Secretariat is exploring the possibility to host a GENA Marketplace on our website. 

This platform will be open to any member to discuss partnership and seek a SP2SP subcontractor. 

More details will be provided during the Exec in Barcelona and a vote could take place during the next AGM. 

Updates on EB2B

GENA and OpenPeppol Steering Committee have decided to name eB2B (Enhanced), SP2SP.  

SP2SP will be introduced to GENA chapters. 

Meeting with DG GROW

An introductory meeting was held with DG GROW to explore opportunities for closer cooperation on key digital and regulatory initiatives shaping the European market. The discussion highlighted a shared commitment to aligning efforts and strengthening collaboration across several strategic areas. 

Among the main priorities identified were the preparation and alignment for the upcoming B2G e-invoicing regulation expected by the end of 2026, and the development of a pre-discovery directory aimed at enhancing interoperability and network efficiency across the ecosystem. 

Participants also discussed the integration of CO₂ data within the European e-invoicing standard, the alignment of standards and processes with the EU Customs Data Hub, and the advancement of CEN industry-specific extensions to further strengthen the European framework. 

Additional topics included promoting the benefits of the 5-corner model to enable secure and scalable exchange, exploring the creation of a Service Provider accreditation scheme (covering Trust Services, eID, and Business Wallet integration), and enabling verifiable invoice origination to support scalable SME financing solutions. 

DG GROW representatives were also invited to participate in the GENA Academy, with further discussions to follow. 

This initial exchange marks the beginning of a structured dialogue, with regular follow-up meetings planned to advance these shared objectives. 

Working groups agenda

  • Innovation working group: April 30th at 9:00AM - Link 
  • IWG : April 30th at 10:00AM - Link 
  • Supply chain working group:  April 9th at 10:00AM - Link 
  • IFWG : April 16th at 10:00AM - Link 
  • PPCWG : April 23rd at 10:00AM – Link 

Please, note that you must register on the GENA website to join a working group. You can also find and register for upcoming meetings on the "Events" page. 

Did you like this newsletter? Spread the word among your team! 

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If you want to share non promotional content thought this newsletter, do not hesitate to contact GENA head of secretariat: natacha.clarac@gena.net

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