In advance of the informal European Council meeting on 30 January, AmCham EU has identified five key measures it believes are urgently needed to put Europe back on a path of sustainable growth. The economic and financial crisis gripping Europe is entering a critical phase requiring bold action and strong leadership.

Please click here to read the full press release.
 

AmCham EU heartily endorses the call for a European Cloud Partnership proposed yesterday by Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission, in a speech given in Davos at the World Economic Forum. AmCham EU agrees that by inviting public authorities, industry, consumers and suppliers to work together on Cloud issues we can further advance the technology and better address the challenges and barriers.

Please click here to read the full press release.
 

On Monday 23 January, AmCham EU welcomed Philip Lowe, Director-General of DG Energy for January’s plenary meeting focusing on the 2050 Energy Roadmap. Lowe highlighted the importance of providing businesses and households with secure, sustainable, affordable energy for completing the internal market. Energy policy is not only about climate change. Speaking on the potentials and difficulties regarding new energy technologies, he said 'Energy policy is not only about climate change. Ensuring your energy supplies and staying competitive matter too. You must not think only of saving the world, but also of saving yourself'.

Mr Lowe’s speech was preceded by a panel discussion on European energy competitiveness. Moderating the spirited dialogue was Jerôme Bandry, Chair of AmCham EU’s Transport & Energy Committee. Jonas Teusch, Researcher, CEPS, outlined the necessity for transnational energy infrastructure and highlighted the need for a diverse energy mix. Focusing on the implications for business and competitiveness was Jennifer Linker, EU Advisor, Public & Government Affairs, ExxonMobil. Linker commented on the importance of utilising all types of energy and investigating emerging technologies that could be potential ‘game-changers’.

Explaining the necessity of a long term forecast in order to facilitate investments and allow for implementation was Birgitte Bay, Energy Attaché of the Permanent Representation of Denmark. Bay emphasised the need to reach an agreement now in order to allow individual nation states to lay the framework essential for future compliance. The panel member’s comments emphasised the need for continued innovation, transforming existing energies and novel ones into a cohesive, lasting system.

AmCham EU welcomes the Commission’s comprehensive reform of data protection rules and applauds its efforts to create one law applicable to all Member States. AmCham EU believes that privacy laws need to be globally consistent and clear. To facilitate growth and innovation in the EU (and globally), data protection rules should be flexible and simple enough to encourage the development and take up of innovative new services.

Please click here to read AmCham EU's full press release on today's proposals.

Members of the Presidency Group met with Commissioner Vassiliou yesterday to discuss outreach towards the upcoming Cypriot presidency and in particular the delegation to Nicosia. The Commissioner was open to further collaboration and was supportive of AmCham EU’s efforts.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Commisisoner Vassiliou to update members on her priorities on education, culture and sport. AmCham EU looks forward to meeting with Commissioner Vassiliou again following their delegation to Cyprus.

Last night, at 21:00 EST, President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address before the US Congress and the American people. In this year's speech, President Obama highlighted his plans for continued economic recovery in the United States and included a call to ease the partisanship affecting the implementation of measures to improve the economy.

This annual address, a major event of the American political calendar, is used as a platform for the President of the United States to explain policy priorities for the coming year.

Please click here watch President Obama's State of the Union address.

Today, economic and political leaders from around the globe will gather in Davos, Switzerland for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The attendees, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, will discuss economic and political issues affecting the global community, particularly topics centered around this year's theme, 'The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models.' AmCham EU hopes that the conference provides clarity and direction for future global growth.

Today members of the European Parliament elected Martin Schulz (S&D) as its new president. Schulz will take the post from current European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and will lead the EP until the next elections in June 2014.

The current climate presents President Schulz with many challenges and AmCham EU looks forward to working with him in the coming two and a half years.

Please click here to read a biography on President Schulz on the website of the European Parliament
 

On 14 January, The Hon. Michael C. Punke, US Ambassador to the WTO and Deputy United States Trade Representative visited AmCham EU to talk to members about the state of play in the WTO. In this video, Punke acknowledges that something needs to be done to improve the WTO's negotiating functions and explains that there is willingness among member countries to not only maintain the WTO, but also ensure that it remains effective.