Publications

Between moving offices, a special Gala featuring two prime ministers and over twelve months' celebrations around our 60th anniversary, 2023 was a monumental year for AmCham EU. Yet despite the celebrations, the year brought its share of changes and challenges as well. From an increasingly complex geopolitical environment to making the case for enhancing the EU’s competitiveness, we never lost sight of our original mission: building a strong and united Europe and maintaining and strengthening the transatlantic relationship. Our 2023 Annual Report provides an overview of how we continued to be the top voice for US business committed to and invested in Europe. 

The attractiveness of Europe is under threat. A heavy regulatory agenda, protectionist trends and sluggish growth have created a difficult environment for business in a context of global uncertainty. But the future does not have to be bleak. With decisive action, the EU can reset the agenda and strengthen its competitiveness in the global economy. Attractiveness of Europe: Agenda for Action 2024-2029 – AmCham EU’s new vision for the EU’s upcoming legislative mandate – outlines the three priority areas that should drive the European political agenda to strengthen the attractiveness of the region and tackle global issues.

In today’s economy, customs administrations are faced with a variety of complex challenges ranging from the growing importance of e-commerce and emerging technologies, to recent global crises that have put severe strains on supply chains. Simultaneously, the role of customs authorities has changed dramatically in the past two decades, and they now cover roles such as supply chain security, environmental and health standards revisions and trade facilitation. These changes have also been exacerbated by the ongoing reform of the Union Customs Code – the greatest reform made to the European customs ecosystem since the 1990s.

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 2022 annual report provides an overview of how we continued to be the top voice for US business committed to and invested in Europe.

AmCham EU welcomes the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which comes at a difficult time for the EU and the world. The volatility of the external environment is a serious concern for American companies in Europe, alongside the war in Ukraine, the energy and food crises, staggering inflation levels and the disruption of global supply chains. However, nothing should derail us from our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. AmCham EU continues to condemn the war, which violates international law and poses a clear threat to the fundamental values of human dignity, rule of law and democracy. The Swedish Presidency takes on a critical task in supporting the development of an outward-looking industrial strategy in Europe, one that relies on the twin digital and green transitions.

AmCham EU welcomes the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europe faces a wide range of challenges, starting with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AmCham EU strongly condemns the war which violates international law and poses a clear threat to the fundamental values of human dignity, rule of law and democracy. Rebuilding Ukraine will be an important priority over the coming years. The uncertainty is further amplified by the pandemic, rising inflation, congested supply chains and a lack of trust in institutions around the world. The Czech Presidency will also take on a critical task in overseeing Europe’s economic recovery around the twin transitions of environmental protection and digitalisation.

Our recommendations to the Czech Presidency aim to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more prosperous EU. The document highlights the priorities and recommendations that we believe will make Europe a more competitive and attractive place for investment. AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with the Czech Republic during its Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of a strong, green and digital economic recovery.

The Transatlantic Economy 2022 presents the most up-to-date facts and figures about the economic relationship. The research was conducted independently by Daniel Hamilton and Joseph Quinlan at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and the Transatlantic Leadership Network.

The study includes dedicated profiles for 30+ European countries and all US states.

This year’s study features new insights into how the war in Ukraine affects the transatlantic relationship, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, prospects for the recovery, global supply chain issues, relations with China and the transatlantic energy economy.

AmCham EU welcomes the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite impressive efforts to get vaccines into the arms of a majority of Europeans, Europe now finds itself in the midst of a fresh wave, which is further complicated by the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the virus. Following the progressive disbursement to Member States of the historic NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, the French Presidency will take on a critical task in overseeing the substantive rebuild of Europe’s economy around the twin transitions of environmental protection and the digitalisation. Our recommendations to the French Presidency aim to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more prosperous EU. The document highlights the priorities and recommendations that we believe will make Europe a more competitive and attractive place for investment. AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with France during its Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of a strong, green and digital economic recovery.

AmCham EU welcomes the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. With the vaccine roll-out well underway, the EU’s attention is now turning to life after the pandemic. The Slovenian Presidency will take on a critical role in overseeing the substantive rebuild of Europe’s economy around the twin transitions of environmental protection and digitalisation. Our recommendations to the Slovenian Presidency aim to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more prosperous EU. The document highlights the priorities and recommendations that we believe will make Europe more competitive and an attractive place for investment. AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with Slovenia during its Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of strong, green and digital economic recovery.

AmCham EU welcomes the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Portugal’s Presidency comes at a critical juncture for the EU. In light of the two-pronged health and economic crisis that the global pandemic has provoked, the Presidency will play an instrumental role in charting Europe’s recovery. Our recommendations to the Portuguese Presidency aim to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more prosperous EU. The document highlights the priorities and recommendations that we believe will make Europe more competitive and an attractive place for investment. AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with Portugal during its Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of strong, green and digital economic recovery.

2019 was a year of transition for AmCham EU as one European mandate closed and we prepared for the start of a new one. Our focus was on putting AmCham EU at the forefront of the ongoing debates in the new EU institutions as the agenda and priorities for the next five years were being determined. Our messages focused on the need to push for a stronger, more competitive and united Europe in the global marketplace with an emphasis on strengthening the Single Market as outlined in our Agenda for Action.

AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with Germany during and after the Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more competitive Europe which creates jobs, meets consumers’ needs and generates wealth for its citizens.

AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with Croatia during and after the Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of a stronger and more competitive Europe which creates jobs, meets consumers’ needs and generates wealth for its citizens.

In 2018, AmCham EU spoke out on issues that are fundamental to the success of our members in Europe. In a year of heightened transatlantic trade tensions and political turbulence, we stood up for the EU-US partnership and made the case for a united Europe.