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On Wednesday, 16 April, AmCham EU met with Michael J. Vaccaro, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, US Department of State. The exchange with members focused on transatlantic defence industrial cooperation, regulatory issues shaping European Defence Markets and the ability of US companies to support European rearmament. Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU also highlighted the importance of an open policy environment across the Atlantic to support cooperation and enable companies to contribute to Europe’s security and defence industrial base.

Getting the revision of the Defence Procurement Directive right is critical to delivering the capabilities Member States need to deter aggression by 2030 and to strengthen the capacity and innovation of the European defence industrial base. Reform efforts should focus on removing practical barriers such as administrative complexity, production bottlenecks and limited visibility that delay capability delivery. Through targeted simplification, the Commission can accelerate procurement, support joint acquisition and ensure access to best-in-class technologies. By contrast, introducing stringent European preference requirements, such as headquarters-based eligibility criteria or rigid content thresholds, risks reducing competition, increasing administrative burdens and overlooking the deep investments many US companies already have in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. Readiness by 2030 requires inclusive access and cooperation with allies to ensure that European defence spending translates into a formidable and enduring deterrent.

On Thursday, 29 January, AmCham EU hosted a roundtable focused on defence policy with Andrew Puzder, US Ambassador to the European Union and Matthew Whitaker, US Ambassador to NATO. With senior leaders from US companies active in Europe’s defence markets, the discussion focused on the evolving defence policy landscape at the EU and NATO and the importance of transatlantic industrial cooperation in responding to today’s security challenges. Participants exchanged views on how openness of EU regulation, procurement and funding initiatives can better support speed, scale and interoperability among NATO Allies while building on the strengths of the transatlantic defence industrial base.