On 1 January 2023, Sweden took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which comes at a difficult time for the EU and the world. The volatility of the external environment is a serious concern for American companies in Europe, alongside the war in Ukraine, the energy and food crises, staggering inflation levels and the disruption of global supply chains. TheSwedish Presidencytakes on a critical task in supporting the development of an outward-looking industrial strategy in Europe, one that relies on the twin digital and green transitions.
Our recommendations to the Swedish Presidency aim to raise issues that are vital to shaping a strong and competitive EU and provide concrete input and direction to the Presidency’s work programme over the coming six months.
AmCham EU looks forward to working closely with Sweden during its Presidency to ensure we reach our common objectives of a strong, green and digital economic recovery.
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Europe’s carbon market must cut emissions without cutting industrial production. In some industries, emissions have fallen alongside output and plant closures. The EU ETS revision should ensure that progress towards 2050 comes from investment and technology, not deindustrialisation.
The Linear Reduction Factor should be adjusted after 2030 so allowances remain available through 2050. ETS revenues should support decarbonisation projects, while free allocation should continue where alternatives are not available at scale.
For aviation and maritime transport, EU rules should align with international frameworks. Data centres should be removed from the scope where emissions come mainly from backup generators. These changes would link emissions reductions to investment while limiting the relocation of production outside Europe.
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On Tuesday, 14 July, AmCham EU hosted Csaba Kontor, Policy Assistant, Cabinet of European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, for a discussion on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in the life sciences sector. Moderated by Katerina Valkova (Bristol Myers Squibb), Chair, Healthcare Committee, AmCham EU, the exchange explored how policy decisions can support investment through research and innovation while ensuring patients in Europe can access health innovation. Participants also discussed the importance of resilient EU-US supply chains and regulatory cooperation, as well as the need to avoid divergence and provide the scale and predictability required to sustain Europe’s position as a leading destination for life sciences investment.
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Amazon has been active in Ireland for more than 20 years, investing in its operations, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and contributing to communities across the country. Through recent projects in energy and education, the company is helping Ireland advance its climate and digital skills ambitions. In partnership with EnergyCloud Ireland, Amazon is supporting 500 families in Fingal with free tanks of hot water powered by surplus renewable energy. At the same time, the company is donating digital technology kits to every primary school in Ireland, helping teachers bring coding, computational thinking and digital literacy into the classroom. These initiatives show how private sector collaboration can support greener homes, stronger schools and a more future-ready Ireland. Read the full story on Invested in Europe.
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