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The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will test whether the EU can address carbon leakage while keeping investment in Europe. As implementation of the CBAM advances, companies face costs and reporting duties under rules that are still taking shape. Preventing carbon leakage matters. However, the CBAM should work in practice before scope extension is considered. Moving too soon could place burdens on companies and disrupt value chains, with consequences for investment and trade. The focus should be on avoiding measures that introduce further uncertainty and extending proposed safeguards in the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund beyond 2027. Learn how to shape the CBAM so it prevents carbon leakage while maintaining competitiveness. 

Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026 at a decisive moment for Europe’s competitiveness agenda. With the EU seeking to advance simplification, strengthen the Single Market and shape the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the Presidency will have a critical role to play in turning ambition into action. Its programme spans competitiveness, values and security. However, none of these priorities can succeed without a strong economy that fosters innovation and growth. In this context, AmCham EU’s Recommendations to the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU sets out concrete actions to advance a competitive and resilient EU economy. These proposals aim to help shape Europe into an attractive place for businesses to invest, operate and grow.

On Tuesday, 23 June, AmCham EU held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), welcoming Pedro Lourtie, Head of Cabinet of the President of the European Council, António Costa. The AGM provided an opportunity to reflect on AmCham EU’s work over the past year and to look ahead to the organisation’s priorities for the months to come, including its continued efforts to support an open and competitive Europe.

Pfizer selected Denmark as the site of the largest vaccine registry study ever undertaken, demonstrating how Europe can attract world-leading life sciences investment when the right conditions are in place. Beginning in 2024, Pfizer partnered with researchers at the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials at Herlev-Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen to assess whether its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine could reduce hospitalisations in adults. Denmark’s innovation-friendly environment, national digital mailbox eBoks and world-class health registries enabled researchers to invite almost the entire adult population to take part, helping recruit more than 500,000 participants. Study materials were made available online, allowing participants to provide informed consent from home, while health registries supported comprehensive tracking and analysis. This milestone shows how strong public-private collaboration and a supportive policy framework can help Europe deliver clinical research at scale and improve health outcomes for citizens. Read the full story on Invested in Europe. 

Ukraine’s progress in strengthening the rule of law and building a credible anti-corruption framework in recent years is enhancing its attractiveness as a destination for business and investment. Over the past decade, the establishment of specialised institutions, including NABU, SAPO, the High Anti-Corruption Court and the Prozorro public procurement platform, has improved transparency and enforcement. However, significant challenges remain, including the need to further strengthen judicial independence, ensure the consistent application of reforms and reinforce institutional resilience against political and wartime pressures. While governance risks persist, Ukraine has demonstrated a commitment to reform, supported by EU accession conditionality and international partnerships. Continued progress in these areas will be critical to providing investors with greater legal certainty and confidence in the country’s long-term trajectory.

Experience from the Baltic states illustrates how EU accession can act as a catalyst for institutional transformation, economic growth and increased foreign investment. Ukraine’s reform trajectory reflects many of the same characteristics, suggesting significant long-term potential if current reforms are maintained and deepened. For businesses, successful engagement in Ukraine requires both confidence in the country’s evolving institutional framework and robust internal compliance measures. Continued progress on judicial independence, anti-corruption enforcement and regulatory transparency will be essential to strengthening investor confidence, supporting reconstruction efforts and advancing Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.

Europe’s clean industrial transition will depend on policies that can unlock investment, strengthen energy systems and support sustainable transport. From Tuesday, 16 to Wednesday, 17 June, AmCham EU travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France for a series of meetings on EU transport, energy and climate policy developments. The delegation engaged with Members of the European Parliament and political group advisers to share business perspectives on Europe’s clean industrial transition. Discussions focused on the Industrial Accelerator Act, the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the Grids Package and energy security. Members highlighted the need for predictable, technology-neutral rules that support investment, strengthen Europe’s industrial base and preserve openness to trusted partners.