News

Transatlantic Conference 2021 Day 2: sustainability and climate change

The second day of AmCham EU’s all-digital Transatlantic Conference 2021 took place on Thursday, 25 March. Opening remarks from Zeger Vercouteren, Chair, AmCham EU (J&J) and Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU emphasised the urgency of the climate change agenda for both sides of the Atlantic, citing the need for all segments of society to accelerate efforts towards Paris Agreement targets to limit global warming.

New survey shows the resilience of the transatlantic economy

A new survey from the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that the transatlantic economy is on the mend, thanks to the massive policy response to the recession brought on by COVID-19. Both the EU and the US are set to see a return to growth in 2021, although the rebound is uneven with the US powering ahead. Turning to the future, the report notes that the fundamentals of the transatlantic relationship remain strong and will likely play a key role in the economic recovery to come. Read the report here.

Accelerating digitalisation - a healthy approach

On Thursday, 18 March, AmCham EU and AmCham Portugal together hosted the third event of the Portuguese Presidency series focused on digital healthcare. Dr Diogo Serras Lopes, Secretary of State, Ministry of Health, Portugal, delivered the opening keynote speech; delineating Portugal’s ambitions in the digital health space. The panel discussion featured Monique Goyens, Director-General, the European Consumer Organisation; Andrzej Ryś, Director, Health systems, Medical products and Innovation, DG SANTE, European Commission; and Sónia Santos, Associate Director, Health and Public Administration, Accenture. The discussion was moderated by Zeger Vercouteren, Vice-President, Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy EMEA and Global Supply Chain Initiatives, J&J; and Chair, AmCham EU. The event focused on the future of digital healthcare centering on issues of trust in data, use of technology in healthcare and how to ensure digitalisation of healthcare across the EU evolves together with society.

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care and research

AmCham EU provided a response to the open consultation of the BECA (Beating Cancer) Committee of the European Parliament. The consultation addresses the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on cancer care services and patients. Focusing on both the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 the consultation looks at: provision and continuity of care during the pandemic for cancer treatment and screening; lifestyle; the impact on patients and care providers; and related matters on data, research and innovation to improve cancer treatment and healthcare systems in the future. Read our consultation here.

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: towards targeted improvements based on better regulation

On Tuesday, 9 March AmCham EU published its position paper on the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The paper offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities that AmCham EU members wish to highlight within this important initiative. It highlights our support for the EU’s ambitions to strengthen the existing framework for EU chemicals policy to help achieve greater sustainability and competitiveness moving forward. It also welcomes some elements of the proposal which help clarify and streamline the system as it currently works. Read our position here.

Blues and Schmooze: apero, music and networking

Our first online afterwork networking event, held on Wednesday, 10 March, was a huge hit with the members who joined. The 15-minute performance from musician Kevin Gaudeus was particularly well received. Following this Julie Basecqz, Vice-President of L’Union de artiste gave a moving presentation on the Sparardrap Fund which supports professionals in the creative sector in Belgium. We concluded with a networking session, which was interrupted by a call from members to hear a final song from Kevin. We would like to thank our in-kind sponsors Diageo, The Coca Cola Company and UPS for providing us with pre-event gift boxes. A special thanks goes to our members at UPS who personally ensured that boxes were delivered before the event.

EU and US leaders reset the transatlantic relationship

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) warmly welcomes the announcement made on Friday, 5 March by President von der Leyen and President Biden to suspend punitive tariffs imposed in the WTO aircraft subsidies dispute. The four-month grace period will give time to negotiators to find a commonly-agreed permanent solution to the dispute on permissible aircraft subsidies.

AmCham EU publishes position on Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)

The use of technology in financial services is not new. In fact, the financial services industry has always been at the forefront of testing and adopting new technologies to transform the financial services industry, increase competition and efficiency, as well as offering new solutions to its customers. What is new is the speed of innovation we are seeing in recent years covering all aspects of the financial services sector and leading to the development of new business models, services and products.

Amongst these new developments is the use of information and communications technology (ICT), which finds itself at continuously greater use in the sphere of finance, requiring greater security resilience for firms. The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) represents thus a crucial step towards a harmonized EU framework for digital resilience in financial operations. Due to the unique factors coming together in the financial services sector, given its fast evolution, increased diversification and international nature, additional care needs to be taken into consideration in the adoption of the new proposed regulation. Read our position here.

EU-US trade relations under the new Biden Administration: What can the Portuguese Presidency do?

On Thursday, 25 February, AmCham EU and AmCham Portugal together hosted the inaugural Portuguese Presidency series event on EU-US trade relations under the new Biden administration. The panel featured Marjorie Chorlins, Senior Vice-President, European Affairs, US Chamber of Commerce; Tim Figures, Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group; Rupert Schlegelmilch, Director, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission; and Florian Wastl, Director Public Affairs Europe, Mars and Vice-Chair, Trade and External Affairs Committee, AmCham EU. The discussion was moderated by Roger Coelho, Senior Policy Director, AmCham EU and focused on the prospects for greater transatlantic alignment on trade issues and the role of the presidency in rekindling the relationship in the face of global challenges.