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The power of local suppliers: more than shipping partners

24 Feb 2022
All Committees

The Van Berkel Group is located in Veghel, a town in the North Brabant region of the Netherlands. The company, founded in 1955 as a family company in agriculture, has expanded and diversified into many new sectors. In 2003, Van Berkel Logistics was established, with shipping services starting up in 2005, in the form of container transportation by barge from Veghel to Rotterdam and Antwerp. Read how Van Berkel managed to grow exponentially and leverage the power of exports by collaborating with Mars. 

Tax: implementing global rules

24 Feb 2022
Tax

Last year, over 130 countries reached an agreement to reform the global corporate tax framework. Attention now shifts to implementation as a global level playing field will be critical for the success of the project. On Tuesday, 22 February 2022, AmCham EU hosted Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, EU Commission, to discuss the Commission's proposal for implementing the global rules on a minimum tax.

Data Act: open approach is critical to success

23 Feb 2022
All Committees
Digital Economy

The European Commission published its proposal for a Data Act. The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) shares the EU’s ambition to increase access to and further re-use of data. International data flows are the cornerstone of today’s economy. By promoting increased data sharing, the Data Act can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and help achieve its digital transformation objectives.

Healthcare roundtable: designing EU's innovation-driven agenda

16 Feb 2022
Healthcare

To provide insights on European health priorities for 2022 and how AmCham EU and others can work together in the future, Andrea Chiarello, Chair, Healthcare Committee, AmCham EU joined AmCham Belgium for a roundtable discussion on Monday, 14 February. The panellists touched on the state of play of key EU developments in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and broader life sciences policy. It was also highlighted that strong collaboration between AmCham EU and AmCham Belgium could strengthen an innovation-driven agenda for life sciences.

Gender stereotypes and the challenges for business

15 Feb 2022
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights the need to reflect on the persisting gender gap in scientific disciplines. Organised by the EPP Group on Instagram Live, Veronika Bendere, Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, AmCham EU, joined the Early gender stereotypes: the challenges for business alongside Angelika Niebler, MEP (EPP, DE) and young researchers Cormac Harris and Alan O’Sullivan to discuss the main stereotypes affecting girls in science and the reason why girls often take different career paths than their male counterparts. 

Foreign Subsidies Regulation: views from key EU trade and investment partners

15 Feb 2022
All Committees
Competition policy

Together with organisations representing key EU trade and investment partners, AmCham EU released a joint statement sharing our views on the proposed Regulation on Foreign Subsidies. We support the European Commission’s objective to combat distortions of competition in the EU caused by foreign subsidies. However, our organisations identify risks with the current proposal around legal uncertainty, burdensome compliance due to overbroad definitions and delays. A balanced, proportionate and multilateral approach will be critical. The statement points to six main areas for refinement. Read the full statement here.

Mitigating the health, social and economic crises

9 Feb 2022
All Committees
Competition policy
Consumer affairs
Future of Work, Education & Skills
Healthcare
Trade & External Affairs

COVID-19 has been more than a health crisis. It affected societies and economies at their core. To mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, the French Presidency is focusing on constructing a union that trusts science, fights discrimination and secures a prosperous future for the next generation. In this context, the 27 ministers for health are meeting to discuss the EU’s ambitious healthcare agenda. Learn more about the priorities of American companies in Europe for healthcare policy. 

New US Ambassador to the EU visits AmCham EU

7 Feb 2022
All Committees
Transatlantic

On Tuesday, 1 February, The Honorable Mark Gitenstein, US Ambassador to the EU, met with Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, to discuss key priorities for the American business community in Europe. AmCham EU looks forward to collaborating closely with Ambassador Gitenstein and his team at the US Mission to the EU as we continue to strengthen the transatlantic partnership.

AmCham EU hosts US Under Secretary Jose W. Fernandez

7 Feb 2022
All Committees
Transatlantic

On Wednesday, 2 February, AmCham EU hosted Jose W. Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, US Department of State. The meeting focused on a number of issues impacting transatlantic partners, including trade, supply chain security, energy and environment. The Under Secretary travelled to Brussels for a range of meetings with senior EU officials.

EU industrial ecosystems on the path to the green and digital transition

7 Feb 2022
All Committees
Competition policy
Future of Work, Education & Skills
Trade & External Affairs

Industry is a critical sector in Europe, accounting for more than 32 million jobs. It is also an enabler of the economic recovery, powering the green and digital transitions across the Single Market. To improve the region’s global competitiveness, the EU’s industrial strategy should focus on digitalising European industry, creating the right environment for a clean future, accelerating the EU circular economy and reinforcing the rules-based trading system. Join the conversation this week at the EU Industry Days, which will focus on the role of youth in shaping the future of industry. Read more about our priorities here.

Want not, waste not? Making EU circularity goals a reality

27 Jan 2022
All Committees
Environment
Transport, Energy & Climate

The proliferation of labelling requirements for waste disposal across the Member States is impeding the fulfillment of recycling targets. Meanwhile, alignment on consumer labelling instructions for waste disposal is needed across the EU. Find out why the way you recycle the package of your pain au chocolat matters, what opportunities policymakers must seize to ensure circular economy objectives are met and what lessons can be learnt from US companies around circularity 

From pandemic to recovery: what does 2022 hold in store for the EU and the world

26 Jan 2022
All Committees

During the first plenary meeting of the year on Tuesday, 25 January, AmCham EU welcomed Suzanne Lynch, Playbook Brussels co-author, POLITICO Europe and Alex Pigman, Brussels correspondent, Agence France-Presse for an interactive session diving into the news stories that will likely dominate the headlines in 2022 and the overall political trends that will drive the conversation in Brussels and beyond. The panel was moderated by Victoria Main, CEO, SEC Newgate EU and Member of the Board at AmCham EU. During the meeting, the 2022 Strategic Plan was also presented and a new member was voted in: General Motors.

French Presidency recommendations: how to deliver on the EU’s green ambitions

20 Jan 2022
Agriculture & Food
Environment
Transport, Energy & Climate

Between 20 and 22 January 2022, the EU Climate and Energy Ministers will meet in Amiens, France, to discuss the state of a wide range of environmental issues. This is a unique opportunity for the French Presidency of the Council of the EU to advance the common European climate agenda. Take a look at AmCham EU’s recommendations to support the EU’s green transition.

Congratulations to the new European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola

18 Jan 2022
All Committees
European Parliament Outreach

On Tuesday, 18 January Roberta Metsola, MEP (EPP, MT) was elected as President of the European Parliament with 458 votes in the first round of balloting. Together with our member companies operating in Europe, AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with President Metsola and the European Parliament to ensure a prosperous and sustainable EU recovery.

Forging Europe’s recovery together: health preparedness

18 Jan 2022
All Committees
Healthcare

COVID-19 has taught us the importance of ensuring our healthcare systems are resilient and prepared to face future health threats. Andrea Chiarello (Pfizer) discusses how collaboration between industry and public authorities can increase European innovation potential and attract private investment in life sciences and healthcare. Watch to find out what lessons EU policymakers should draw from the pandemic.  

Leadership update

17 Jan 2022
Agriculture & Food
Healthcare
Intellectual Property
Transport, Energy & Climate
EU-UK
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

AmCham EU is pleased to announce the results of the elections that took place from December till mid-January and welcome new and re-elected leaders. We wish successful terms to Carsten Dannöhl (Caterpillar); Nicola del Valle de Sousa Gavaia (McDonald’s); Alexander Majer (First Solar); Simona Popa (InterDigital); Sofia Trenor (Amazon); and Felix Uedelhoven (GE). 

The Secretariat would also like to thank those who are stepping down for the extraordinary work they completed during their terms: Kate Ballentyne (former Chevron); Veronika Bendere (MSD), who remains as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force; Luca Bellomo (MSD); Taggart Davis (JP Morgan Chase Co); Walter Van der Meiren (UPS), who remains as Chair of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee; and Benjamin Neyt (LVMH).

More details about the leadership changes mentioned above can be found here.  

Recommendations to the French Presidency

14 Jan 2022
All Committees
Presidency

On January 2022, France took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite impressive efforts to get vaccines into the arms of the majority of citizens, Europe now finds itself in the midst of a fresh wave, which is further complicated by the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the virus. As Member States begin to obtain disbursements of the historic NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, the French Presidency is taking on a critical task in overseeing the substantive rebuild of Europe’s economy around the twin transitions of environmental protection and digitalisation. Our recommendations to the French Presidency aim to ensure we reach our common goals of a more prosperous and more competitive EU.

Forging Europe’s recovery together: inclusivity

11 Jan 2022
All Committees
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

COVID-19 has created a crisis with deep socio-economic consequences and groups like women, youth, immigrants and people with disabilities have been disproportionally affected by the impacts of the pandemic. Inclusion should be at the heart of Europe’s recovery. Aliki Foinikopoulou (Salesforce), Vice-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, AmCham EU discusses how closing the skills gap, designing upskilling programs for the workforce and creating more job opportunities will ensure the EU’s just and inclusive recovery

Minimum tax: Consistent implementation will be critical

22 Dec 2021
Tax

Brussels, 22 December 2021 – the European Commission published the directive implementing the global rules on a minimum effective tax rate of 15%. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) believes the directive should be fully aligned with the international agreement and consistently applied across the EU.

Mark Gitenstein confirmed as new US Ambassador to the EU

21 Dec 2021
All Committees
Transatlantic

Following a vote in the United States Senate on Saturday, 18 December 2021, Mark Gitenstein has been confirmed as the United States Ambassador to the European Union.

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) congratulates Ambassador Gitenstein on his confirmation. We look forward to welcoming him to Europe and to collaborating closely with him and his team as we continue to build and strengthen the transatlantic partnership.

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