Overcoming COVID-19: Laying the foundation for a more resilient EU

Last week, the European Commission presented an ambitious recovery plan, including a new instrument ‘Next Generation EU’ to boost the EU’s spending capacity. The Commission’s proposal aims to tackle the ripple effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the European economy and puts forward an unparalleled financial commitment, along with strong policy measures to strengthen the Single Market as well as to enable the green and digital transformations. It has the potential to be one of the engines that will restart Europe’s economy, creating new jobs and prosperity to benefit all citizens. However, there is still a tough balancing act in front of us, which requires management of the short-term economic impact of the health emergency, while laying the foundations for what is coming next. 

 

AmCham EU has published a statement on the proposal last week and will continue to support policymakers throughout the entire recovery phase, therefore we have put forward some short-term recommendations to ensure that Europe does not stall on its road to recovery.

News
1 Jun 2020
Overcoming COVID-19: Laying the foundation for a more resilient EU

The crisis is far from over. As it evolves, new challenges emerge. Member States must tackle the effects of containment on households and businesses and develop exit strategies to allow for economic activity to start again after weeks of ‘lockdowns’, while continuing to protect the health and security of their citizens. The road to economic recovery will be long. The difficult task ahead for leaders in Europe, and around the world, is to continue to address all these issues simultaneously.

 

The EU economy’s ability to bounce back will undeniably depend on the success of crisis response measures. Short-term measures will need to be complemented by long-term policies and investments, the combination of which should support the new European economy that is both green and digital.

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12 Nov 2026

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. 

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10 Nov 2026

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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9 Nov 2026

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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