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Who is the BestinBrussels?

26 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Thursday, 22 June, AmCham EU took home the runner-up prize in the Best EU Trade Association 2023 category at the BestinBrussels 2023 Best Practice Awards. Surveying over 700 Brussels public affairs professionals and consultants, the award considered 2,400 trade associations operating in Brussels. Those shortlisted included Airlines for Europe (A4E), AmCham EU, DIGITALEUROPE, and the European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (EUCOPE) with CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, taking the top prize. Congratulations to all those involved! 

Fostering an open and competitive EU trade policy agenda

22 Jun 2023
All Committees
Trade & External Affairs

Encouraging a more cooperative and efficient international trading system is key to safeguarding the global economy. For Europe, an open, free, rules-based trade policy agenda will be essential to promote its attractiveness and growth, as well as for the success of the green transition. Given the current context, as well as the European elections and the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference that will take place in 2024, it is crucial for the EU to strengthen its business environment and boost its bilateral trade agenda through Free Trade Agreements. Read more about how to promote an open and competitive EU trade policy agenda. 

Underlining the benefits of free trade in Strasbourg

22 Jun 2023
All Committees
Trade & External Affairs

From Tuesday 13 June to Wednesday, 14 June, AmCham EU’s Trade and External Affairs Committee visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France to discuss trade policy and the recent Trade and Technology Council ministerial. Meeting with key MEPs involved with the Committee on International Trade, delegates spoke about the importance of ratifying key Free Trade Agreements with Australia, Chile, Mercosur, Mexico, and New Zealand by the end of the mandate. By advancing trade policy, the EU can become more attractive and competitive for business.  

AmCham EU hosts its 2023 Annual General Meeting

21 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Tuesday, 20 June, AmCham EU held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where we had the honour of welcoming Ilze Juhansone, Secretary-General, European Commission for a keynote speech for a second year in a row. During the internal session, members reviewed last year’s accomplishments and discussed plans for the organisation in 2023 and beyond.

Transatlantic business priorities at George Washington University

21 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Tuesday, 13 June, Thibaut L’Ortye, Public Affairs Director, AmCham EU, spoke at George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs. Taking part in a panel with Jonathan Day, Chief of Staff to Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), the discussion focused on transatlantic foreign direct investment, business community priorities and how to strengthen engagement at the local level. 

2023 Lizanne Scott Staff Excellence Award winner

21 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Tuesday, 20 June, during our Annual General Meeting, the 2023 Lizanne Scott Staff Excellence Award was presented to Laura Escobar Díaz, Content Advisor. Congratulations to Laura for her outstanding display of strong work ethic, can-do attitude and sense of team work. She has shown superb organizational skills, outstanding project management skills and is always proactive. Laura will receive a certificate of excellence along with a monetary prize. Well done, Laura! 

A stronger Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services

21 Jun 2023
All Committees

Since 2021, industry has urged the European Commission to adopt the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS) and to avoid conflating legal and cybersecurity considerations in a technical instrument. However, concerns remain regarding sovereignty requirements and ownership criteria in ENISA's latest text. To address these concerns, policymakers should explain the impact of different assurance levels on cloud service users and critical entities, as well as the rationale behind applying varying levels of assurance. Learn how the European Union can enhance cybersecurity for cloud services.

Invested in Europe: how Apple empowers European entrepreneurs

19 Jun 2023
All Committees
Future of Work, Education & Skills

As Europe celebrates the European Year of Skills, Apple is marking seven years of investing in digital skills training through its Developer Academy at the University of Naples Federico II. Since 2016, nearly 2,000 students have participated in the free nine-month programme and graduated with the tools and training to find and create jobs in the iOS app economy, which supports more than 2.4 million jobs across Europe. Learn more about this and other stories of American companies’ commitment to the communities they interact with and the places they call home on Invested in Europe. 

Recommendations to the Spanish Presidency

19 Jun 2023
All Committees

On 1 July 2023, Spain will take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union against the backdrop of a volatile external environment. Over the next six months, strengthening the case for investing in Europe should be the top priority for the Spanish Presidency. Our recommendations to the Spanish Presidency aim to raise issues that are vital to shaping a strong and competitive EU and provide concrete input and direction to the Presidency’s work programme over the coming six months. 

Annual Report 2022

14 Jun 2023
All Committees

Between the war in Ukraine, skyrocketing inflation, the compounded energy and food crisis and the disruption of global supply chains, nothing about the external environment in 2022 was ‘normal’. Despite disruptions, AmCham EU remained committed to our mission of transatlantic cooperation. From the lessons learned in 2021, we remained a more flexible organisation, advocating for the Single Market, trade and democracy. Our Annual Report 2022 provides an overview of how we continued to be the top voice for US business committed to and invested in Europe. 

Introducing the Youth Entrepreneurship Award finalists

14 Jun 2023
All Committees

With the EU celebrating the European Year of Skills, AmCham EU and JA Europe are pleased to announce the three finalists for the Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2023. The award, now in its 11th edition, recognises young people’s entrepreneurial spirit and aims to foster innovation in Europe. The finalists were selected from a pool of applicants from all over Europe. The winner will be selected by a high-level jury and announced on Wednesday, 28 June at AmCham EU’s Gala evening. 

The trends that will shape the Spanish Presidency

14 Jun 2023
All Committees

With Spain set to take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in less than two weeks, where should España’s priorities stand? Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, spoke at AmChamSpain’s Global Trends: Energy, Technology, and Friendshoring in Times of Global Turbulence, to outline AmCham EU’s recommendations for the upcoming six months. She emphasised the importance of moving forward with the twin digital and green transitions, easing up on the regulatory burden at the EU-level and further strengthening the transatlantic partnership.  

Rewarding start-ups on the Single Market’s anniversary

13 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Wednesday, 7 June, Thibaut L’Ortye, Public Affairs Director, AmCham EU, organised in collaboration with Junior Achievement Europe. The first edition of the competition, held in celebration of the 30th anniversary of EUROPEN and the Single Market, recognises start-ups that maximise the opportunities presented by the Single Market. The winner, SEaNSOR from Greece, offers a solution to illegal fishing and locating waste through the use of sound sensors. SEaNSOR received a €1,000 prize and was invited to attend the Gen-E 2023 conference in Istanbul.

Decarbonised competitiveness: the Net-Zero Industry Act

12 Jun 2023
All Committees
Competition policy
Environment

Meeting environmental targets while maintaining the attractiveness of Europe should be an urgent goal of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). True commitment to competitive decarbonisation requires the NZIA to include all sectors across the value chain, while also clarifying key provisions. Technological neutrality, streamlined access to financing and skills development should all be priorities in reaching the EU’s net-zero goals. Read how the EU can became a global leader in sustainable competitiveness through the NZIA. 

Levelling the playing field for European investment

7 Jun 2023
All Committees
Competition policy

Reports show that the European Commission is considering ways to limit administrative barriers in the Foreign Subsidies Regulation Implementing Regulation (FSR IR) to ensure that the FSR does not deter investment in Europe. AmCham EU, along with nine other signatories, is encouraged to see that industry feedback has been considered in the text. Limiting onerous reporting obligations, addressing confidentiality concerns and exempting certain categories of non-distortive financial contributions would make FSR compliance easier for companies committed to investing in Europe. Read why we are encouraged by the Commission's reported consideration of industry perspectives. 

The industry view on corporate sustainability due diligence

5 Jun 2023
All Committees

The proposed Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (CS3D) needs to be clear and manageable for industry. Full harmonisation, balanced legal liability provisions and engagement from relevant stakeholders should be taken into account for the next stages of the legislative process. Read all of the recommendations put forward by AmCham EU and 35 other organisations on how to avoid legal uncertainty and contribute to the green transition.    

Trade and Technology Council: fourth ministerial advances transatlantic cooperation

5 Jun 2023
All Committees
Transatlantic

Leaders from the EU and the US met on 30 and 31 May in Luleå, Sweden, for the fourth ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC). American companies in Europe support the wide range of deliverables that were announced, in particular the degree of ambition in the area of sustainable trade.

AmCham EU Board hosts Ambassador Ailish Campbell

5 Jun 2023
All Committees

On Friday, 2 June, AmCham EU’s Board of Directors welcomed Ailish Campbell, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union. The discussions covered a range of current issues as well as insights on the investment climate, artificial intelligence, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the war in Ukraine.   

The details of data

1 Jun 2023
All Committees
Digital Economy

What can Europe and the US do to build closer ties through data? Our panel discussion on Thursday, 1 June moderated by Tanguy Van Overstraeten, Issue Lead, Privacy and Data Flows, AmCham EU and Partner, Linklaters explored this question and more. Participants heard why an effective framework for transatlantic data flows is needed from Bruno Gencarelli, Head of Unit, International Affairs and Data Flows, Directorate-General for Justice, European Commission; Aaron Held, Commercial Officer, Digital Policy, Health Policy, Artificial Intelligence Policy, US Mission to the EU and Gwendal Legrand, Deputy Head of the European Data Protection Board Secretariat, European Data Protection Board. 

The times they are a-changin': technology and AmCham EU

31 May 2023
All Committees

Do you remember a time before personal computers were common? What about email, the internet or social media? When was the first time you hopped on a video conference? Over the last 60 years, these and other technologies have become integral to our homes and workplaces – especially when that work is building a strong and united Europe and strengthening the transatlantic relationship. Take a history lesson on how AmCham EU evolved with changes in technology.  

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