Celebrating our 60th anniversary in style: Gala 2023

Bringing together over 500 guests, AmCham EU celebrated its 60th Anniversary on Wednesday, 28 June in true style. The evening began with a conversation between Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister, Belgium and Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister, Estonia on the importance of strong transatlantic ties. The rest of the evening ranged from celebratory messages from the likes of Mark Gitenstein, United States Ambassador to the EU and Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission, to sustainable dining and music from the NATO SHAPE International Band and Ukrainian Cellist and Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate Oleksiy Shadrin. The celebrations were capped off with a presentation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award by Vera Jourova, Vice-President, European Commission to Bulgarian start-up AMIRA Meditech. Couldn’t make it? Here’s what you missed

News
28 Jun 2023
Celebrating our 60th anniversary in style: Gala 2023

Bringing together over 500 guests, AmCham EU celebrated its 60th Anniversary on Wednesday, 28 June in true style. The evening began with a conversation between Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister, Belgium and Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister, Estonia on the importance of strong transatlantic ties. The rest of the evening ranged from celebratory messages from the likes of Mark Gitenstein, United States Ambassador to the EU and Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission, to sustainable dining and music from the NATO SHAPE International Band and Ukrainian Cellist and Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate Oleksiy Shadrin. The celebrations were capped off with a presentation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award by Vera Jourova, Vice-President, European Commission to Bulgarian start-up AMIRA Meditech. Couldn’t make it? Here’s what you missed

Following the prime minister's fireside chat, we were treated to a performance by the NATO SHAPE International Band before then enjoying a seated dinner from Michelin Green Star chef Arabelle Meirlaen and the beginning of the evening's programme. Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU and Zeger Vercouteren (Johnson & Johnson), Chair, AmCham EU, welcomed guests and drew attention to some of the highlights of the organisation over the past six decades.   

Following their remarks, guests received a special video message from Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission wishing the organisation the best on this special occasion and highlighted areas of strong transatlantic cooperation. Mark Gitenstein, United States Ambassador to the EU then gave a congratulatory toast emphasising the significance of AmCham EU’s work. Guests then had the opportunity to enjoy a performance by Oleksiy Shadrin, Ukrainian Cellist and Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate. 

Before everyone had the chance to break out their dancing shoes to more hits from the NATO Shape International Band, the final piece of the evening’s festive programme took place. Vera Jourova, Vice-President, European Commission joined us to present the winner of this year’s AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award to Bulgaria’s Natalia Konova, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, AMIRA Meditech. Now it’s 11th edition, AmCham EU has been proud to support entrepreneurship in Europe, together with JA Europe. Building on the mission of the EMPOWER HER initiative, the Executive Council doubled down on their commitment to support women entrepreneurs with the award for the fourth year in a row.  

A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making the event happen. Cheers to the next 60 years!

Related items

News
13 Apr 2026

What the EU can do to overcome uncertainty in agri-food

At the European Food Forum’s Navigating US Tariffs: Impact on European Food and Drink Trade, Economy and Future Relations, Edouard Coppieters, Senior Policy Adviser, AmCham EU, spoke about the new reality in which US agri-food companies operate. Taking place on Thursday, 9 April, he outlined the continued growth of EU-US agri-trade and the need for the EU to continue to diversify its trade partners, welcoming the recent announcement of deals with Australia and India. Alongside Brando Benifei, MEP (IT, S&D), he noted that tackling the uncertainty created by tariffs is essential and that to this end, the Framework Agreement between the EU and US is a needed stable basis. Although tariffs bring uncertainty, the EU must not lose sight of the predictability steps it can take to ensure it remains competitive and attractive to potential new trading partners.

Agriculture and food
Read more
Read more about What the EU can do to overcome uncertainty in agri-food
Position Paper
13 Apr 2026

Delivering simpler, science-based rules for Europe’s agri-food sector

The EU’s agri-food regulatory framework is fragmented and lacks predictability. The Food and Feed Safety Omnibus is a chance to address these shortcomings by reducing delays, improving consistency and easing compliance burdens that limit market access. 

Uncertainty discourages investment and slows the uptake of new solutions. A more proportionate approach can improve legal certainty and support more consistent implementation across Member States. At the same time, maintaining a science-based, risk-based approach to trade measures is necessary to safeguard food security and avoid supply disruptions. 

Agriculture and food
Simplification
Read more
Read more about Delivering simpler, science-based rules for Europe’s agri-food sector
Close-up of a laptop keyboard with blue backlighting, highlighting the shift key and adjacent keys in a soft-focus perspective.
News
13 Apr 2026

Industry calls for ambitious and simplified implementation of the AI Act 

Together with 14 other associations, AmCham EU has signed a joint statement on the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus on AI, calling for a clear, simple and innovation-friendly implementation of the AI Act. Co-legislators should swiftly reach an agreement on an ambitious final text that keeps simplification at its core. Measures to streamline overlaps with existing EU legislation and improve legal certainty are essential, alongside targeted adjustments to ensure the framework remains practical. This includes extending grace periods for generative AI labelling requirements, ensuring greater legal clarity for AI systems entering the EU market, preserving the risk-based approach of the AI Act by exempting non high-risk systems from registration, and supporting fixed compliance deadlines for high-risk systems.

Learn how the EU can support a clear and innovation friendly framework in the joint statement.

Digital
Read more
Read more about Industry calls for ambitious and simplified implementation of the AI Act