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The importance of the transatlantic economic relationship

23 Jun 2020
All Committees
Trade & External Affairs

Roger Coelho, Senior Policy Director, AmCham EU, gave a presentation on Tuesday, 16 June to the Council of American States in Europe (CASE) for its 'Virtual USA Investment Roundtable'.

In his presentation to an audience of representatives from US States and businesses from across Europe, Roger highlighted the importance of the transatlantic economic relationship with an emphasis on investment. As highlighted in AmCham EU’s annual Transatlantic Economy report, investment drives the transatlantic economy.

 

Security, defence and space edition of American Hour series

15 Jun 2020
All Committees
Security, Defence & Space
Transatlantic
On Thursday, 11 June, AmCham EU hosted a security, defence and space edition of the American Hour, members only series and welcomed Gordon B. (Skip) Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO. Roger Coelho, Senior Policy Director, AmCham EU provided opening remarks and the fireside chat was moderated by Rudy Priem (Raytheon Technologies), Chair, Security, Defence and Space Committee. Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, closed the session.
 
The guest speaker gave an overview of NATO's efforts to combat COVID-19 so as to prevent the health crisis from becoming a security crisis and to ensure that NATO can continue to provide effective deterrence and defence. Some of the support that NATO has provided to civil authorities includes: setting up a crisis response team to coordinate and respond to requests from allies and partners, supporting regular information sharing, collection of best practices, building hospitals and providing strategic airlift for logistic support and for transporting critical medical equipment, personnel and patients. NATO has also worked together with the EU and the EU’s European Response Coordination Center to exchange information, provide logistic support and coordinate efforts, as well as on communication efforts to address the spread of disinformation which has targeted both NATO and the EU.

Pulling together today for the circular economy of tomorrow

15 Jun 2020
All Committees
Environment
Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU wrote an opinion piece on the circular economy last week. Susan makes the case for Europe’s transition to a circular economy and notes that such a change is compelling for the EU's leaders, its citizens, and in many respects for businesses. According to her, potential opportunities include: 'reduced pressures on the environment, as better waste management would imply both reduced use of resources such as energy, water, land and materials, and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.
 
It would also mitigate the risks associated with the supply of raw materials, such as price volatility, availability and import dependency.' You can read the full piece here and for more details on AmCham EU’s member companies' actions towards sustainability, see our brochure ‘The Circular Economy: 15 innovative industry solutions that drive a sustainable future’

Fighting the economic impact of COVID-19 with a more united EU and a stronger EU-US relationship

15 Jun 2020
All Committees
For our last ‘Town Hall’ for members, AmCham EU connected with Peter Beyer, Member and Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation, German Bundestag.
 
During the meeting, Peter shared his insights on the COVID-19 emergency and its impact on the EU as well as on the EU-US relationship. He stressed that the COVID-19 outbreak showed the fragility of cross-border cooperation in times of crisis and the need for a stronger and more united EU. According to him, stronger competences at the EU level are needed to allow for an effective response to the crisis, especially with regard to its economic impact. Peter noted that the extent to which the EU will be able to do that depends on the willingness of the Member States which are still very divided with regard to the economic recovery plan. 
 
As for the impact on the EU-US relationship, Peter indicated that the pandemic showed the need for more intensified transatlantic cooperation. Being natural allies, he added, the EU and the US need to start discussing a free trade agreement without further delay.   

AmCham Bulgaria webinar on the EU’s Next Generation economic recovery plan

15 Jun 2020
All Committees
On Wednesday, 10 June 2020, AmCham Bulgaria hosted a webinar focused on EU’s Next Generation economic recovery plan. Eva Maydell, MEP (EPP, BG), European Parliament was the keynote speaker and she presented the plan and engaged in an in-depth Q&A session with AmCham Bulgaria's members. The webinar focused on the importance of cross country coordination and cooperation on the EU's economic recovery strategy as well as the role that digitalisation will play in the economic recovery in the coming days, weeks and months in the EU and the world.  
 
Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU and Chair, AmChams in Europe, joined the webinar as a guest speaker to provide her input to the discussion. Susan presented AmCham EU’s economic recovery paper, read it here.

Town Hall with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission

10 Jun 2020
All Committees
Last week, during our Town Hall meeting for members, we connected with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that works for People, European Commission.
 
The Executive Vice-President shared his insights on the COVID-19 emergency and highlighted that national lockdowns are affecting world trade, hitting the transatlantic supply chains as well as EU-US trade investment flows and that open markets and trade opportunities are the best way to revitalise the economy following the COVID-19 health crisis.
 
Further on the issue of trade, he stressed that resolving bilateral trade disputes has become even more urgent against the COVID-19 landscape. You can read his full remarks here

American Hour with the Peterson Institute for International Economics

10 Jun 2020
All Committees
Trade & External Affairs
Transatlantic
For our last American Hour, members-only fireside chat series that took place on Wednesday, 3 June, we had the pleasure of welcoming Chad Bown, Economist, Peterson Institute for International Economics and Reginald Jones, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics. The conversation was moderated by Taggart Davis (JP Morgan), Chair, Transatlantic Task Force and Vice-Chair, Board, AmCham EU.
 
Chad Bown described the difference between the 2008 financial crisis and today’s pandemic. He insisted that there is a stark difference in the response by the international community shown during the two crises. Participants also discussed trade remedies and how these tend to be used by governments during economic recessions. It was concluded that there is a strong possibility that many governments will start using countervailing duties (ie, anti-subsidies tariffs) and raise tariffs between countries worldwide to counter the upcoming recession.

Finalists selected for the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2020

10 Jun 2020
All Committees
AmCham EU and Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) are delighted to announce the finalists of the 2020 Youth Entrepreneurship Award. Candidates from across Europe were in the running for the award after participating in a JA Europe programme, making it past the initial start-up phase and creating a business concept that showed potential. The theme this year focused on female entrepreneurship.
 
The shortlisted start-ups pitched their companies to a high-level jury panel during an online finale on Thursday, 11 June
 
The five outstanding finalists are Kirija KandiahSara Green BrodersenCécilia MzayekStéphanie Roland and Dominika Podolanová

An integrated strategy for Life Sciences in Europe

9 Jun 2020
All Committees
Healthcare
On Thursday, 4 June, AmCham EU’s Healthcare Committee hosted an online debate on its report 'Life Sciences in Europe – An integrated strategy for healthcare innovation (2019-2024)'. The panellists discussed the importance of building the resistance of health systems in Europe following the COVID-19 outbreak. A video recording of the event is available here
 
The event was opened by Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU. She spoke about the importance of the life sciences sector and its role in Europe’s economic recovery.

Queen Elisabeth Competition donations

9 Jun 2020
All Committees
The Queen Elisabeth Competition has been active since 1937 as one of the main music competitions of world-renowned importance. Only WWII had imposed a pause to the event prior to the COVID-19  postponement of the 2020 edition. The competition is relying mainly on private donations and needs financial support more than ever to go through this exceptional ordeal. Donations are vital and will make it possible for the Queen Elisabeth Competition to organise an outstanding and awaited piano edition next year, maintaining its standard of excellence.
 
Donations are tax-deductible and can be made here. For all details please visit the Queen Elisabeth Competition website
 
If you wish for your donation to be used be used to facilitate the participation of US candidates and jury members to the next competition edition in 2021, add ‘AmCham EU’ in the payment description. You can also keep up with the Queen Elisabeth Competition by taking a look at their summer virtual events including Flagey on Air and Sessions d'été de Tempo . 

The passing of Roderick ‘Rory’ Macmillan

4 Jun 2020
All Committees
It is with the utmost sadness that we announce the sudden death of Roderick ‘Rory’ Macmillan. Rory was a valued member of AmCham EU for more than 20 years. He was also well known and highly respected in wider Brussels EU circles. Importantly, he was a dear friend and colleague to many of us and he will be sorely missed. Many of our lives have been enriched by his friendship and supported by his professional dedication.  
 
A private service will take place in line with current UK government COVID restrictions. A fitting memorial service to celebrate Rory’s life will take place at a future date to be finalised. Those who would have liked to attend, but due to the current restrictions cannot, are invited to make a donation. Instead of flowers, you are kindly invited to make a donation to one of Rory’s favourite charities as listed here: World Child Cancer and the Belgium Alzheimer Association.

Joint Business Statement on the Proposal on Representative Actions (Collective Redress)

4 Jun 2020
All Committees
Consumer affairs
AmCham EU joined representatives of Europe’s business community to caution EU Member State governments and the European Parliament against rushing to conclude trilogue discussions on the representative actions proposal and urge them to take due time to consider the complex issues still unresolved.
 
Trilogue parties have not met - even at technical level - for several months. Yet there are reports that the Croatian Presidency intends to discuss a Commission compromise text with Member States in the hope of concluding discussions at Coreper in just one week, on 10 June. This piece of legislation is of utmost importance for the proper functioning of private enforcement mechanisms in and between Member States and we are extremely concerned by any efforts to rush the examination of this new framework.

 

AmCham Bulgaria’s Executive Club: Virtual Meeting with Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

3 Jun 2020
All Committees
On Friday, 29 May 2020, Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, European Commission was the guest speaker at an online event organised by AmCham Bulgaria. Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU provided welcome remarks in her capacity as Chair of AmChams in Europe.

Commissioner Gabriel spoke about the importance of cross-country cooperation as well as the need for synergy and upskilling. She also outlined the required next steps that will allow Europe to successfully tackle the current COVID-19 crisis. We would like to thank Petar T. Ivanov, CEO, AmCham Bulgaria and Olivier Marquette, President, AmCham Bulgaria for hosting the event.

AmChams in Europe: US week virtual outreach

3 Jun 2020
All Committees
The AmChams in Europe network, which represents 45 AmChams in 43 countries in Europe and wider Europe, travels every year to Washington, DC to meet with high-level US stakeholders.
 
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the annual conference took place virtually this year from Monday, 11 May until Wednesday, 27 May
 
Executives from over 30 AmChams gathered together to meet with:
  • The National Economic Council
  • The US Chamber of Commerce
  • Fox Radio News
  • The US Department of State
  • The Atlantic Council
  • The US Department of Commerce
The topics of discussion focused on EU-US relations, US elections, US-UK trade as well as on COVID-19 and its influence on the transatlantic relationship. The importance of collaboration and coordination and the need for Chambers to act as bridgebuilders in these challenging times emerged in every discussion. 

Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU speaks on EU economic recovery

3 Jun 2020
All Committees
Last week, the European Commission presented an ambitious recovery plan for the EU economy but a tough balancing act remains in front of us. American companies in Europe support the Commission’s proposal. Read our full statement here.
 
To further show our support, we have also published sector-by-sector recommendations to ensure that Europe does not stall on its road to recovery.
Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU breaks down the key messages in the paper and outlines the need for a coordinated response, watch her video and read our recommendations for the details. 

Overcoming COVID-19: Laying the foundation for a more resilient EU

2 Jun 2020
All Committees
Last week, the European Commission presented an ambitious recovery plan, including a new instrument ‘Next Generation EU’ to boost the EU’s spending capacity. The Commission’s proposal aims to tackle the ripple effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the European economy and puts forward an unparalleled financial commitment, along with strong policy measures to strengthen the Single Market as well as to enable the green and digital transformations. It has the potential to be one of the engines that will restart Europe’s economy, creating new jobs and prosperity to benefit all citizens. However, there is still a tough balancing act in front of us, which requires management of the short-term economic impact of the health emergency, while laying the foundations for what is coming next. 
 
AmCham EU has published a statement on the proposal last week and will continue to support policymakers throughout the entire recovery phase, therefore we have put forward some short-term recommendations to ensure that Europe does not stall on its road to recovery.

US business supports the EU’s economic recovery plan

29 May 2020
All Committees
On Wednesday, 27 May, the European Commission presented an ambitious recovery plan, including a new instrument ‘Next Generation EU’ to boost the EU’s spending capacity. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) fully supports the Commission’s proposal which aims to tackle the ripple effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the European economy. AmCham EU calls on Member States to endorse the Commission’s proposal.
 
In addition to an unparalleled financial commitment, the recovery plan outlines strong policy measures to strengthen the Single Market as well as to enable the green and digital transformations. It has the potential to be one of the engines that will restart Europe’s economy, creating new jobs and prosperity to benefit all citizens.

May Plenary: The European Union one year after the 2019 European Elections

28 May 2020
All Committees
Plenary Meeting
On Tuesday, 26 May 2020, AmCham EU hosted a virtual plenary meeting to discuss the state of play of the European Union one year after the European elections. The event featured a panel discussion with Katarina Barley, MEP (S&D, DE),Vice-President, European Parliament; Reinhard Bütikofer, MEP (Greens/EFA, DE), European Parliament; Antonio López-Istúriz, MEP (EPP, ES), Secretary-General, EPP Party and Jacob Moroza-Rasmussen, Secretary-General, ALDE Party.
 
The discussion addressed key issues relating to the COVID-19 impact on the newly elected European institutions, the Future of Europe and the EU-US relationship. On this occasion, AmCham EU also welcomed a new member, Fiserv. as part of its Plenary meeting.
 
For questions, please contact Roberta Brumana, Senior External Relations Adviser (RBR@amchameu.eu).

Queen Elisabeth Competition in the spotlight

27 May 2020
All Committees
In recognition of the importance of the arts and young people in the arts, AmCham EU is a long-time supporter of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. The competition is for musicians who have completed their training and who rank as being of the highest calibre.
 
While, this year, the event has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queen Elisabeth Competition will still be under the spotlight from Monday, 25 to Saturday, 30 May thanks to the support of Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF) and Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). You can listen to numerous radio broadcasts, retransmissions of previous competitions and even an exceptional evening of live performances at the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR). Find out all the details in French or Dutch on the Queen Elisabeth Competition website. 

Reflections on Europe's circular economy

24 May 2020
All Committees
Environment
On Wednesday 20 May, AmCham EU hosted an event on 'Reflections on Europe’s circular economy and what comes next', where we welcomed Marius Vašcega, Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commission as a guest speaker. The event was an opportunity to discuss the European Commission’s objectives with regard to the Circular Economy Action Plan released on Wednesday, 11 March and how this fits in with the European Green Deal and the EU’s economic recovery plan in the context of COVID-19. 

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