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AmCham EU hosts first fully virtual Brussels Briefing

22 Mar 2021
All Committees

On Friday, 19 March, AmCham EU hosted the first fully virtual Brussels Briefing with over 40 representatives from 26 AmChams in attendance. The objective of the Brussels Briefing is to inform AmChams colleagues about the latest developments in EU policy; to exchange advocacy best practices; and to network. This year’s programme featured a keynote speech on the EU agenda by Eva Maydell MEP (EPP, BG) and a best practices panel on how to communicate about EU policy in the Member States featuring Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen, Director-General, DG Communication, European Commission; Peter Barabas, Editor-in-Chief, News, Euronews; and Cristina Falcone, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Europe, UPS. The Brussels Briefing also featured a networking session with US Commercial Officers from around Europe as well as policy networking sessions on digital and Green Deal.

Euronews announced as Transatlantic Conference media partner

16 Mar 2021
All Committees

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) is delighted to announce that Euronews will be the media partner of its upcoming Transatlantic Conference, taking place from Wednesday, 24 March to Friday, 27 March. The event will bring together senior EU and US policymakers and business leaders to discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship in a changing global order. The conference programme is available here.

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: towards targeted improvements based on better regulation

16 Mar 2021
All Committees
Environment

On Tuesday, 9 March AmCham EU published its position paper on the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The paper offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities that AmCham EU members wish to highlight within this important initiative. It highlights our support for the EU’s ambitions to strengthen the existing framework for EU chemicals policy to help achieve greater sustainability and competitiveness moving forward. It also welcomes some elements of the proposal which help clarify and streamline the system as it currently works. Read our position here.

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and research

16 Mar 2021
Healthcare

AmCham EU provided a response to the open consultation of the BECA (Beating Cancer) Committee of the European Parliament. The consultation addresses the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on cancer care services and patients. Focusing on both the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 the consultation looks at: provision and continuity of care during the pandemic for cancer treatment and screening; lifestyle; the impact on patients and care providers; and related matters on data, research and innovation to improve cancer treatment and healthcare systems in the future. Read our consultation here.

Blues and Schmooze: apero, music and networking

11 Mar 2021
All Committees

Our first online afterwork networking event, held on Wednesday, 10 March, was a huge hit with the members who joined. The 15-minute performance from musician Kevin Gaudeus was particularly well received. Following this Julie Basecqz, Vice-President of L’Union de artiste gave a moving presentation on the Sparardrap Fund which supports professionals in the creative sector in Belgium. We concluded with a networking session, which was interrupted by a call from members to hear a final song from Kevin. We would like to thank our in-kind sponsors Diageo, The Coca Cola Company and UPS for providing us with pre-event gift boxes. A special thanks goes to our members at UPS who personally ensured that boxes were delivered before the event.

AmCham EU voted best trade association in Brussels

11 Mar 2021

AmCham EU has been voted Best EU Trade Association of the year by BestinBrussels. A jury of senior consultants was asked to name one EU Trade Association which exemplifies best-practice, best-in-class EU lobbying in Brussels, the most cited response was AmCham EU.

Over the last year, AmCham EU and its members navigated nimbly the immense uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This recognition reminds us that we need to be proud of what we have achieved together and shows that our reputation as a trusted policy partner remains strong.

Europe Today: Susan Danger shares perspectives at webinar

10 Mar 2021
All Committees

How do business interests align with the European political agenda? That was the overarching question of the day at the ‘Europe Today: What Associations Need to Know’ webinar discussion hosted by the American Society of Association Executives and sponsored by Visit Brussels on Tuesday, 9 March. Guest panellists included Nele Devolder, Association Director, Kellen; Marsha Turner, CEO, International Association of Lighting Directors; Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU.

EU and US leaders reset the transatlantic relationship

9 Mar 2021
Customs & Trade Facilitation
Trade & External Affairs
Transatlantic

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) warmly welcomes the announcement made on Friday, 5 March by President von der Leyen and President Biden to suspend punitive tariffs imposed in the WTO aircraft subsidies dispute. The four-month grace period will give time to negotiators to find a commonly-agreed permanent solution to the dispute on permissible aircraft subsidies.

International Women's Day 2021: Choose to Challenge

8 Mar 2021
All Committees
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

This International Women's Day, AmCham EU is choosing to challenge the inequalities and biasies that continue to exist against women. Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU marked the occasion by penning a blog in which she discusses the inequalities that women continue to face all over the world; from the pay gap to the power gap. Read her blog post here.

AmCham EU members and staff are also making their own personal pledges this International Women's Day. To read their individual #ChooseToChallenge goals, take a look at the AmCham EU Twitter account throughout Monday, 8 March.

This International Women's Day, AmCham EU is choosing to challenge. Will you?

AmCham EU publishes position on Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)

8 Mar 2021
Digital Economy
Financial Services

The use of technology in financial services is not new. In fact, the financial services industry has always been at the forefront of testing and adopting new technologies to transform the financial services industry, increase competition and efficiency, as well as offering new solutions to its customers. What is new is the speed of innovation we are seeing in recent years covering all aspects of the financial services sector and leading to the development of new business models, services and products.

Amongst these new developments is the use of information and communications technology (ICT), which finds itself at continuously greater use in the sphere of finance, requiring greater security resilience for firms. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) represents thus a crucial step towards a harmonized EU framework for digital resilience in financial operations. Due to the unique factors coming together in the financial services sector, given its fast evolution, increased diversification and international nature, additional care needs to be taken into consideration in the adoption of the new proposed regulation. Read our position here.

Towards a balanced, proportionate instrument on foreign subsidies

2 Mar 2021
Competition policy

On Tuesday, 2 March AmCham EU published its position on the European Commission's White Paper to deal with distortive effects caused by foreign subsidies in the Single Market. The proposal is a positive step towards addressing practices which negatively impact both EU and non-EU companies. The Commission should, however, refrain from imposing unnecessary burdens on companies that may not be proportionate to the goals the Commission seeks to achieve. Read the paper here.

EU-US trade relations under the new Biden Administration: What can the Portuguese Presidency do?

1 Mar 2021

On Thursday, 25 February, AmCham EU and AmCham Portugal together hosted the inaugural Portuguese Presidency series event on EU-US trade relations under the new Biden administration. The panel featured Marjorie Chorlins, Senior Vice-President, European Affairs, US Chamber of Commerce; Tim Figures, Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group; Rupert Schlegelmilch, Director, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission; and Florian Wastl, Director Public Affairs Europe, Mars and Vice-Chair, Trade and External Affairs Committee, AmCham EU. The discussion was moderated by Roger Coelho, Senior Policy Director, AmCham EU and focused on the prospects for greater transatlantic alignment on trade issues and the role of the presidency in rekindling the relationship in the face of global challenges.

Plenary meeting: Enabling Europe's digital future through education

24 Feb 2021
All Committees
Future of Work, Education & Skills

On Tuesday, 23 February, AmCham EU hosted a Plenary meeting on Enabling Europe's digital future through education. The panel discussion, featuring Victor Negrescu, MEP (RO, S&D), Vice-Chair, Committee on Culture and Education, European Parliament; Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit, Digital Education, European Commission; Ania Helseth, Public Policy Manager, Facebook; Michal Langton, Vice-President, Government Relations, JP Morgan; and moderated by Margareta Chesaru, Public Affairs Manager, UiPath, focused on the key components of the Digital Education Action plan for 2021-2027 and the future of digital skills, the critical importance of which has been unveiled by the COVID-19 crisis.

A new industrial strategy for the EU

23 Feb 2021
All Committees
Digital Economy
Environment
Future of Work, Education & Skills
Security, Defence & Space
Trade & External Affairs
Transport, Energy & Climate

Industry is a vital sector for the European economy. The EU needs a comprehensive industrial strategy in order to improve the global competitiveness of the region. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, automatisation of processes, the changing context of the job market and the growing importance of environmental concerns, as well as the uncertain geopolitical outlook, AmCham EU outlines four priorities for a new EU industrial strategy. These priorities include digitising European industry: fostering innovation in people, technologies and processes; creating the right environment for a clean future; accelerating the EU circular economy; reinforcing the rules-based trading system and reinvigorating the transatlantic partnership.

New EU trade strategy charts positive path

19 Feb 2021
All Committees
Trade & External Affairs

On Thursday 18 February, the European Commission presented its renewed trade strategy. This latest communication charts a positive path for European trade policy, embracing the EU’s leadership role in a changing multipolar world.

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) is confident that the new strategy can be highly effective as its core elements are anchored in the EU’s recovery plan, which seeks to enable the green and digital transformations. AmCham EU fully supports the plan’s vision that, in order to create prosperity, jobs and growth, the EU needs to remain an open, competitive and attractive place for international investment.

The US rejoins the Paris Agreement

19 Feb 2021
All Committees
Transport, Energy & Climate

On Friday 19 February, the United States formally rejoined the Paris Agreement. AmCham EU supports the decision President Biden took on his first day in office. It signals his Administration’s intent to tackle climate change through a global framework that engages all players.

In an interview with Euronews, Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, highlighted the important role of business in advancing the objectives of the Paris Agreement. She emphasised the need for a stable and predictable framework for investments. American companies are already researching, developing and investing in low-carbon technologies to reduce their own carbon footprint, but also to provide solutions to other businesses and society as a whole. Watch the segment available in multiple languages here.

Uniting for diversity: founding the Legal Diversity and Inclusion Alliance

18 Feb 2021
All Committees
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Steptoe and Johnson Director Kathleen Van Nuffel is co-founder of the Legal Diversity and Inclusion Alliance (LDIA). Counting 46 law firms, LDIA is committed to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, promote an inclusive organisational culture and take tangible actions. Check out Kathleen’s personal account of what motivated her to found the LDIA, and how it contributes to a more inclusive society in our latest video.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment makes history at WTO

16 Feb 2021
All Committees
Customs & Trade Facilitation

AmCham EU congratulates Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on being appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday, 15 February 2021. Her appointment is historic, as she is the first female and the first African to take up the role. Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s mandate begins at a time of many challenges for the organisation, with its negotiation and arbitration mechanisms increasingly called into question. The confirmation of Dr Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General is an important first step in overcoming these challenges. Her track record in the Nigerian government and the World Bank, coupled with her reformist agenda, speak to her credentials to set in motion a modernising programme that can make the WTO fit for the 21st century. Her role must now be to seek consensus for reform across the breadth of the WTO’s member countries.

American Hour: Virtual networking with the US Mission to the EU

15 Feb 2021
All Committees

On Thursday, 11 February, AmCham EU hosted its second virtual networking event between representatives from the US Mission to the EU and AmCham EU members and staff. Participants had the opportunity to exchange views around key policy areas such as trade, digital and Green Deal.

Uniting for diversity: ‘belonging’ for gender and disability equality

10 Feb 2021
All Committees
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Virgin Media, a Liberty Global brand, is diversifying its workforce and supporting inclusion of every voice through its ‘belonging’ initiative. As part of the company’s work to create an inclusive culture, the company set up a partnership with disability charity Scope to support a million disabled people to get and stay in work. Check out our video with Bill Myers, Managing Director for Communications, Liberty Global, to learn more about the company’s contribution to a more inclusive society.

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