Join us on the evening of Thursday 31 May for our most glamorous event of the year, Gala Night 2012! The event will feature the presentation of the 9th annual Transatlantic Business Award to the Honarable William E. Kennard, US Ambassador to the EU, along with performances from the winners of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition for Violin 2012.

We would be delighted if you would join us for this evening in the company of European and US business professionals, representatives of European Union institutions and government officials.

Click here to register.

On the occasion of Europe Day, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, delivered an address on the Future of Europe at the beginning of a plenary meeting of the Parliament. In his speech, Schulz urges solidarity among the EU's Member States to fight the crisis and ensure a brighter future for all Europeans.

This evening will see the launch of AmChams in Europe's study The Case for Investing in Europe: Why U.S. companies should stay the course at an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C.

The study by Joseph Quinlan, Transatlantic Fellow at the Center For Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins, and the German Marshall Fund shows that despite the Eurozone crisis, the region offers tremendous opportunities for U.S. businesses and remains the most profitable region in the world for corporate America. The crisis has triggered EU-wide structural reforms that will make Europe stronger, not weaker in the longer term. Meanwhile, the European Union remains the largest and wealthiest economy in the world.

Beginning today and lasting until 10 May, AmCham EU is hosting its ninth annual Washington Doorknock, holding a programme of high-level meetings on cross-sectoral issues such as the Transatlantic Economic Council and wider Transatlantic Economic Relations.

Highlights include:

• Meetings with the Obama administration, members of Congress, Senators and legislative staffers;
• Meetings and panel discussions with industry and business associations, think-tanks & academia, EU member state government representatives and the EU delegation to the US;
• Social events with Ambassador Vale de Almeida and Washington-based trade associations.
• Transatlantic Business Reception at the US Chamber including the launch of ‘The Case for Investing in Europe’ by Joseph Quinlan;

Follow AmCham EU's Twitter feed for live updates!

Yesterday, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council adopted a provisional compromise text on proposed amendments to the EU's rules on capital requirements for banks and investment firms, the so-called CRD IV package.

The proposals set out to replace the existing capital requirement directives and divide them into two new legislative instruments: a regulation establishing prudential requirements that institutions need to respect and a directive governing access to deposit-taking activities.

AmCham EU supports international efforts to improve the quality and to increase the quantity of capital. We believe that the Basel III regulations should be implemented in an internationally consistent way. Divergences from Basel III should be kept to a minimum and mutual recognition of equivalent non-EU jurisdictions is essential.

To read AmCham EU’s position on CRD IV, please click here.

Speaking last week to the American European Community Association, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, called for the creation of 'a new Atlanticism for the 21st century'.

In his speech, President Barroso underlined the huge economic value of the transatlantic relationship and remarked that the EU and the US should not take this for granted. He mentioned that new structures were needed to strengthen and deepen transatlantic ties, mentioning the creation of the High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth as a positive step in the right direction. 

Speaking on the High Level Working Groups interim report due in June, Barroso said, 'I am really looking forward to this report because I consider this initiative to be a major one. I am fully convinced that there is considerable untapped potential for boosting growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic'.

To read President Barroso's speech, please click here.
 

AmCham EU welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the European Commission’s consultation on the EU-US High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth.

We are at a crucial juncture in the world economy. Developed economies, which have been the engines of growth for the past century, are now grappling with substantial debt and other challenges. At the same time, emerging markets are increasing in importance, particularly as prominent investors in both our economies.

The European Commission’s recent report on trade and investment barriers also points to the tendency of these emerging economies towards trade- restrictive industrial policies, containing discriminatory provisions against foreign products, services and investments, impacting EU and US companies. Citizens in the EU and US feel uncertain about the future and are less optimistic about the possibilities for the next generation. Calls for a return to protectionism, isolationism and ‘times of the past’ are increasing.

On 26 April, AmCham EU’s Executive Council (ExCo) was a knowledge partner of the 10th European Business Summit, held at SQUARE in Brussels. The theme of this year’s EBS was ‘Skills for Growth’, focusing on Europe’s skills gap and how to formulate concrete solutions on how to move the EU out of the crisis and enhance growth through skills.

After an opening plenary in the presence of HRH Prince Philippe, including speeches from Elio di Rupo, Prime Minister of Belgium, Mario Monti, Prime Minister of Italy, and Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, participants broke into smaller panel sessions.

AmCham EU’s Presidency Group will be in Cyprus from 5-7 June to engage with top officials in the Cypriot Government and to gain an insight into Cyprus's priorities for its presidency of the Council of the EU.

The delegation will comprise a series of meetings with key Cypriot stakeholders that will cover most of the sectors represented in AmCham EU. It will also provide AmCham EU with the opportunity to present the top business priorities that will boost the investment climate across Europe and ensure the competitiveness of Europe. AmCham EU looks forward to engaging with key presidency stakeholders before, during and after the Cypriot Presidency.

Today is World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) and AmCham EU would like to celebrate the importance of intellectual property in fostering innovation and creativity in Europe and the World. This year’s theme is ‘Visionary Innovators’ and recognising those with foresight and creativity.

Intellectual property rights can take the form of patents, trademarks, designs and copyright and are designed to safeguard the creator’s inventions, brands and creativity. 'Intellectual property is one of the key drivers of economic growth. It’s what gives both companies, including SMEs, and individuals alike the incentive to take risks and invest time and resources developing new products, technologies and solutions to the benefit of consumers', said Hendrik Bourgeois, Chair of AmCham EU. He went on to add, 'By incentivising innovation and creativity, intellectual property attracts investments and creates new jobs in Europe. This is exactly what is needed in this current economic climate, and it all starts with IP protection'.