The global pandemic has heavily impacted the way the EU bubble operates. On Tuesday, 5 October, Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, took part in a hybrid event organised by EURACTIV to discuss how COVID-19 transformed the activities of Brussels-based organisations. She was joined by fellow association leaders, with whom she shared key trends and learnings from the pandemic. She also explored possibilities to strengthen the service offering of trade associations in a hybrid environment.
The global pandemic has heavily impacted the way the EU bubble operates. On Tuesday, 5 October, Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, took part in a hybrid event organised by EURACTIV to discuss how COVID-19 transformed the activities of Brussels-based organisations. She was joined by fellow association leaders, with whom she shared key trends and learnings from the pandemic. She also explored possibilities to strengthen the service offering of trade associations in a hybrid environment.
The conversation brought together:
Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU
Joseph Elborn, Secretary-General, European Youth Forum
Michael Freytag, European Public Affairs Manager, WEC Europe
Roxane Feller, Secretary-General, Animal Health Europe
Adrian M. Joyce, Secretary-General, EuroACE
Emmanuel Mounier, Secretary-General, EU Travel Tech
The discussion revolved around how associations adapted to challenges such as navigating budget constraints, finding new ways of communicating, revisiting what outreach looks like online and ensuring staff wellbeing and productivity.
The event was rounded off with a look to the future. Speakers took stock of the learnings from the COVID-19 crisis as organisations seek to transition to a ‘new normal’ which combines the best of the virtual and in-person worlds.
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The new EU-US strategic partnership on critical minerals marks a positive step forward for the transatlantic relationship, demonstrating how EU-US cooperation can deliver benefits for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Critical minerals sit at the heart of modern technologies and industrial value chains, essential to products like semiconductors and future energy technologies. This strategic partnership will help provide American and European companies with a more secure supply of these inputs. More broadly, the agreement can support the EU and US economies in reducing strategic dependencies in global critical minerals trade – a shared challenge.
Beyond critical minerals, the strategic partnership points to an opportunity for a new chapter in EU-US cooperation built around shared economic and strategic priorities. The two sides have a greater impact when using their combined weight to address shared challenges. Pursuing the kind of cooperation outlined in the strategic partnership should be a priority as the two sides build on the August 2025 EU-US Joint Statement, with further opportunities for coordination on issues such as securing industrial supply chains for AI development, tackling non-market trading practices and bolstering transatlantic cyber resilience.
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On Wednesday, 22 April, AmCham EU hosted a roundtable on Ukraine’s recovery with Jurand Drop, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Finance of Poland and Michał Kapa, Deputy Head of the Team Poland initiative and Director for International Partnerships, PFR Group. The discussion brought together AmCham EU members with counterparts from Polish companies and focused on the investment conditions and policy instruments needed to meet the challenge of Ukraine’s reconstruction and modernisation. Liam Benham (Boeing), Chair, and Yana Humen (IBM), Chair Ukraine Task Force, AmCham EU also underlined the importance of a supportive policy environment to help mobilise private investment and strengthen cooperation in support of Ukraine’s long-term recovery. They highlighted how US companies can work with European partners on making sure Ukraine’s integration with the EU is a success.
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On Tuesday, 21 April, AmCham EU hosted Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission, for a discussion on the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on intellectual property (IP). At a time when AI is reshaping how content is created, used and shared, the exchange explored the increasing pressure on existing IP frameworks. Moderated by Carmen Lembo (Qualcomm), Chair, Intellectual Property Committee, AmCham EU, the discussion covered questions around copyright, AI training and transparency, while also highlighting the importance of a policy framework that protects rights and supports innovation in Europe’s evolving digital economy.
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