Following a presentation of the political interactions of the EU’s institutions by Nele Devolders, Marsha Turner took the floor to provide a case study of how her association had been impacted by the COVID-19 context. AmCham EU CEO Susan Danger then offered her perspectives on the EU-US policy agenda. Setting the scene of the ‘interesting times’ that the transatlantic relationship has known since the 2008 Financial Crisis, she talked of the importance of business’ role in identifying the positive narrative surrounding globalism and free trade. She pointed to the 16 million jobs that the transatlantic relationship generates in both the US and the EU as evidence of the benefit that openness has brought to the region. In the context of the new US administration she impressed upon the audience her renewed optimism to reset, refresh and rekindle the transatlantic relationship – especially in light of last week’s announcement to suspend tariffs on aircraft and non-aircraft products.
Europe Today: Susan Danger shares perspectives at webinar
How do business interests align with the European political agenda? That was the overarching question of the day at the ‘Europe Today: What Associations Need to Know’ webinar discussion hosted by the American Society of Association Executives and sponsored by Visit Brussels on Tuesday, 9 March. Guest panellists included Nele Devolder, Association Director, Kellen; Marsha Turner, CEO, International Association of Lighting Directors; Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU.
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Keeping Europe open and competitive with our Executive Council
Predictability in EU-US relations and Europe’s competitiveness agenda, from simplification to European preference, were centre stage during our Executive Council Fall Plenary on Monday, 9 and Tuesday, 10 November. Our senior business leaders met with EU, US, Canadian and Member State policymakers, as well as industry and think-tank leaders, to discuss the pressures shaping investment decisions in Europe.
The group engaged with the following: Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the European Union; Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute; Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission; Andrew Puzder, Ambassador of the United States to the European Union; Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy; Sir Jonathan Symonds, President of the European Round Table for Industry and Chair of GSK and Jonathan Wilkinson, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union.
Throughout the two days, exchanges explored how to maintain momentum on Single Market integration, deliver meaningful regulatory simplification and strengthen the role of industry in developing skills and creating quality jobs. Discussions also touched on the changing international trade landscape, the importance of EU-US cooperation and the priorities that will shape the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Learn more about our Executive Council here.
Making web scraping rules work for AI
The European Data Protection Board’s draft guidelines on web scraping for generative AI are an opportunity to provide greater legal certainty and support Europe’s AI competitiveness. However, some proposed requirements risk creating disproportionate burdens for AI developers.
A pragmatic, risk-based approach is needed to ensure the rules reflect the technical realities of AI development. This includes proportionate transparency obligations, recognition of the need for diverse training datasets and greater alignment with the AI Act and Digital Omnibus. Clear, harmonised rules are essential to protect personal data while enabling innovation.
Read our consultation response to learn more about the recommendations.
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Discussing EU-US trade after the midterms with KAS and BDI
On Thursday, 5 November, Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU, spoke at a discussion hosted by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Europe and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) on EU-US trade relations after the US midterms. Mr Lohan stressed that elections change the conversation, though not necessarily the outcomes. While the midterms shift power on Capitol Hill, he was not sure this would extend to transatlantic relations, certainly not in the short term. He noted the Turnberry Agreement has brought much-needed predictability, but the relationship remains volatile, with flashpoints ahead that could put stability at risk. The agreement should be solidified and built on, with a move from strategic autonomy to strategic complementarity that will resonate in Washington. Exploring new avenues for partnering where interests align is worthwhile for a $9.8 trillion relationship that employs over 16 million people on both sides of the Atlantic. Learn more about the latest EU-US trade developments in the Transatlantic Economy Pulse.
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