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On Wednesday, March 18, AmCham EU co-organised the AmChams in Europe Brussels Doorknock. Hosted at AmCham EU’s offices, the programme brought together representatives from AmChams across Europe for meetings with EU policymakers and stakeholders in Brussels. 

The group met with Jakob Wegener Friis, Chief Economic Advisor to the President of the European Council; Didrik de Schaetzen, Secretary General, ALDE Party, European Parliament; Klaus Welle, Special Advisor to the Commissioner for Defense and Space and Chairman, Academic Council, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist, European Policy Centre. 

On Tuesday, 17 March, AmCham EU hosted its Transatlantic Dinner, bringing together AmCham EU senior members, selected partners and representatives from the European institutions  for an exchange with Andrew Puzder, US Ambassador to the EU and Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU. 

Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU, opened the evening by reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to building a strong Europe and strengthening transatlantic ties. Liam Benham (Boeing), Chair, AmCham EU, highlighted the challenging environment for businesses amid economic and political uncertainty, while underscoring the resilience of the transatlantic economy, now valued at $9.8 trillion. He emphasised the importance of predictability, a competitive Europe and an open investment environment to support growth. 

The discussion also highlighted the role of business in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, as well as the importance of continued cooperation between the EU and US to strengthen economic ties and address shared challenges. 

At a time of growing economic uncertainty and geopolitical fragmentation, this year’s Transatlantic Conference delivered a clear message: the EU-US partnership remains indispensable, but it must adapt. From trade and competitiveness to innovation and security, discussions throughout the day underscored that closer cooperation is essential to sustain growth and shape global standards. While differences persist, rebuilding trust, simplifying the regulatory environment and maintaining open dialogue will be critical to unlocking the full potential of the transatlantic relationship.  

Crossed wires: how to reconnect transatlantic ties?, explored how policymakers and industry can restore momentum in the relationship and cooperate to tackle new realities. Discussions focused on the future of transatlantic trade, Europe’s competitiveness, the role of lawmakers and how trust between partners can be reinforced.