The European Commission’s Data Governance Act (DGA) represents an important opportunity to develop a better culture of data sharing in Europe, ultimately contributing to boosting Europe’s data economy as well as driving the type of data collaborations that are necessary to support eh EU’s artificial intelligence and digital transformation objectives. Data is a crucial resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and societal progress – particularly with the backdrop of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, it is invaluable for Europe to harness this potential, digitise its industries and compete globally. It is therefore more important than ever to ensure that the power of data can be harnessed and that data can be shared and re-used. Read AmCham EU's position on the DGA here.
Cross-border data flows: a necessary part of global trade
The European Commission’s Data Governance Act (DGA) represents an important opportunity to develop a better culture of data sharing in Europe, ultimately contributing to boosting Europe’s data economy as well as driving the type of data collaborations that are necessary to support eh EU’s artificial intelligence and digital transformation objectives. Data is a crucial resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and societal progress – particularly with the backdrop of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, it is invaluable for Europe to harness this potential, digitise its industries and compete globally. It is therefore more important than ever to ensure that the power of data can be harnessed and that data can be shared and re-used. Read AmCham EU's position on the DGA here.
To ensure the European Commission’s ambitions can become a reality, AmCham EU believes that some aspects of the proposed regulation could be clarified further. It will be important of course to ensure that the proposal achieves its stated goal of increasing data sharing in Europe, rather than unintentionally making collaboration more difficult and creating unnecessary confusion on the relationship with current legal frameworks. To help ensure the capacity of the EU’s digital ecosystem and businesses to innovate, AmCham EU outlined key recommendations touching upon the aspects of international access, data sharing services, re-use of public sector data, data altruism and the European Data Innovation Board (EDIB).
In parallel, Tanguy Van Overstraeten, AmCham EU’s Issue Lead for Privacy and Data Protection in the Digital Economy Committee, wrote a blog post emphasising the importance of cross-border data flows to the global economy, as the world’s GDP becomes ever-more digitised. Data governance must focus on enabling, rather than restricting cross-border data flows if we are to reap the full rewards of the new age of trade in digital services. Find the full blog post here.
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No further delays: the EU-Mercosur FTA is vital for a stronger Europe
The European Council’s decision to postpone its vote on concluding the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) is a missed strategic opportunity that threatens the EU’s credibility as a reliable partner. After more than 20 years of negotiations, the EU is once again delaying one of its most ambitious and strategic trade agreements.
The EU-Mercosur FTA’s economic benefits are clear. At a time when strengthening competitiveness, economic growth and partnerships should be paramount, the FTA provides access to a market of 284 million consumers – reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and supporting integrated supply chains.
Beyond its economic benefits, the EU-Mercosur FTA is also an important geopolitical tool. It would anchor a long-term strategic partnership with a key region and reinforce the EU’s role as a credible advocate of rules-based trade. Amid heightened geopolitical rivalry, postponement weakens the EU’s standing and its ability to conclude ambitious FTAs elsewhere.
The EU cannot afford further delays. The EU-Mercosur FTA is vital for the region’s competitiveness, resilience and global credibility. The European Council must promptly return to this file and conclude this FTA in January.
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STEMming the skills gap
By 2035, high-tech roles will make up a significant share of employment across the EU, yet many young people still lack the digital skills needed to succeed. Amazon is helping bridge this gap through initiatives in Poland and Spain. In Warsaw, the company supports STEM Kindloteka, a modern hub offering young people free, interactive workshops in coding, robotics and virtual reality. In Spain, Amazon is working with the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports to train 500,000 students in digital and technological skills by 2027. These efforts strengthen Europe’s talent pipeline and support long-term competitiveness. Learn more about Amazon’s commitment to digital skills development on Invested in Europe.
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Advocating for open, rules-based trade in Strasbourg
On Tuesday, 25 and Wednesday, 26 November 2025, AmCham EU travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Over the two-day programme, the delegation met with nearly a dozen MEPs and advisors for an exchange on the future of EU trade policy. Discussions centred on the importance of transatlantic cooperation, the ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement and the implementation of the EU-US Framework Agreement. Members underlined the need for an ambitious EU trade agenda that ensures market access, reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers and strengthens the resilience of European industry. The delegation also called for a swift adoption of the Commission’s proposal on tariff reduction on US industrial goods and reiterated the importance of a pragmatic, forward-looking transatlantic agenda that promotes predictability and economic security.
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