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AmCham EU and Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) are delighted to announce that Medilert is the winner of the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2026. Following the previous five editions, this year was again dedicated to women entrepreneurs. Elenya Spiteri, CEO, Medilert, won over the jury with a smart medication management system designed to support older adults and caregivers with greater peace of mind. Presenated at our Annual Gala by Eva Maydell (EPP, BG), Elenya will receive a prize of €10,000 and executive mentorship from top European CEOs of AmCham EU member companies.

Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU said: ‘Medilert is a strong example of how young women entrepreneurs are bringing fresh thinking to Europe’s economy. Elenya has shown what is possible when a clear business idea is matched with the determination to bring it to market. We are pleased to recognise her achievement and the example she sets for women entrepreneurs across Europe.’

“The AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award embodies what we believe at JA Europe: that when young people are given the skills, networks, and opportunities to lead, they don’t just succeed — they reshape entire industries. In its 14th edition, this Award continues to spotlight the female founders driving Europe’s next generation of innovation. Together with AmCham EU, we are proud to amplify the voices of young women whose ventures are already addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time — from healthcare and financial literacy to the future of European investment.” said Salvatore Nigro, Chief Executive Officer, JA Europe

The distinguished jury was composed of Antoine Janssens, Vice-President, Business Transformation, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company; Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU; Eva Maydell, MEP (BG,EPP); John Simmons, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, US Mission to the EU and Clint Tanti, Head of Cabinet of Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.

The AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award was launched in 2013 to recognise young people who have chosen to become entrepreneurs and to foster entrepreneurship in Europe. The initiative is supported by AmCham EU’s Executive Council and organised in collaboration with JA Europe. The three finalists are presented with a monetary prize toward their start-up and will receive mentorship from top European CEOs of AmCham EU member companies. AmCham EU also makes a contribution to the three local JA Europe organisations, recognising their contributions to fostering entrepreneurship at local level.

This week the European Commission unveiled its Tech Sovereignty Package. While the Package’s energy proposals mark a significant step forward for EU energy resilience, the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) proposal overlooks the reality of global technology supply chains and introduces significant legal uncertainty and fragmentation for businesses.

The central question for the Tech Sovereignty Package is how to build resilience without undermining competitiveness. Concerns around overdependence on a limited number of providers, the risk of external disruption to service continuity and the long-term position of the EU’s digital industries are all legitimate. However, greater sovereignty will only be sustainable if it is built on a competitive, diverse and innovative digital ecosystem. The technologies that underpin the global digital economy are developed through highly international supply chains, with innovation spread across multiple markets.

Viewed through this lens, the individual proposals in the Package vary in the extent to which they reinforce resilience while preserving openness and competitiveness. In particular, the proposed CADA risks discriminating against providers that rely on global supply chains – both those based in Europe and those in third countries – even where they offer superior resilience.

‘An origin-based approach is too blunt for such a complex global market’, said Malte Lohan, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, commenting on the Package.

‘A more credible path to achieving greater resilience and control in such an interconnected landscape is to define sovereignty in terms of outcomes: secure and reliable technologies, customer choice, strong safeguards against undue interference and a business environment that supports investment and growth. That points to a risk-based framework where the EU is open to working with trusted partners. This trust should be assessed on the basis of objective standards rather than origin alone’, Mr Lohan added.

Last year alone, US technology firms operating in Europe and their supply chains supported €1.0 trillion in EU GDP, equivalent to 5.4% of total output. The scale of this contribution underscores the need for the EU to preserve an open environment with legal clarity and proportionality in any restrictions or safeguards that would impact commercial operations.

The Package’s Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in energy is a positive step that could help unlock the benefits of digitalisation for Europe’s energy needs, enabling faster and more flexible grids. Digitalisation provides new opportunities to strengthen the reliability and resilience of energy systems. If executed well, the roadmap could support the growing demand of Europe’s digital and AI sectors for low-carbon energy.

Ultimately, the importance of the Tech Sovereignty Package extends well beyond the technology sector itself. Manufacturers, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, mobility, energy and retail all increasingly depend on access to advanced digital technologies to innovate and compete. For the Tech Sovereignty Package to support these sectors, it must ensure companies in Europe continue to benefit from economic openness.

As Ukraine advances on its path toward EU accession, the country will need legal experts who understand both Ukrainian law and the EU’s complex legal framework. Jones Day is helping prepare the next generation of lawyers through its ‘Future in Europe Program – European Union Law Studies for Ukraine’, launched in April 2026 in partnership with Chernivtsi National University. Open to law students across Ukraine, the 14-session online course covers core areas of EU law, from internal market legislation and trade to competition, intellectual property, human rights and environmental, social and governance considerations. By expanding access to legal education, the programme supports Ukraine’s future in the EU and strengthens the foundations for the rule of law. Read the full story on Invested in Europe.