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AmCham EU is pleased to announce the results of the confirmation that took place for the Vice-Chair (Lawyer/Consultant) and Member of the Board of Directors position. Congratulations to Hans Hack (FTI Consulting) for being confirmed for a second mandate. We look forward to continuing working with Hans as he contributes his expertise and leadership to advancing AmCham EU’s policy priorities.  

This year’s Annual Competition Policy Conference, Cutting through the noise to shape effective competition policy, took place on Thursday, 17 October. The event examined how competition policy can contribute to economic resilience and strategic influence amidst growing global uncertainty. Maggy Peeters, Director of Communications and Outreach, and Angélique de Brousse (Johnson & Johnson), Chair, Competition Policy Committee, AmCham EU opened the conference by underscoring the role of competition policy in shaping Europe’s industrial and geopolitical future. 

The first panel explored how geopolitical developments are influencing industrial strategies and the evolving role of competition tools. Astrid Cousin, Head of Unit, Commission Priorities and Strategic Coordination, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission, discussed how competition policy is adapting to meet the EU’s broader strategic and industrial objectives. Miriam Lexmann, MEP (EPP, SK) emphasised the need for measured policy tools rooted in both security and shared democratic values. Representing the technology sector, Alexandre Roure, Head of Policy, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), highlighted the importance of fair, transparent and predictable policy frameworks for competitiveness and growth. With the guidance of Zach Meyers, Research Director, Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), the discussion addressed the future of competition policy. 

Following a coffee break, the audience heard a fireside chat between Natalie Harsdorf, Director-General, Federal Austrian Competition Authority and Martijn Snoep, Chairman, Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. The discussions looked at Austria and The Netherlands’ approaches to anti-competitive subthreshold transactions and reflected on how regulators are adapting their approaches to meet emerging industrial challenges while retaining certainty for investors. Moderated by Nicholas Hirst, Chief Correspondent, EU Competition, MLex, the conversation explored the interplay between certainty and adaptability in merger control. 

Offering an industry perspective, Sharon Marshall, Director, Europe, the Middle East and Africa Partnerships, Google, stressed that effective competition policy should drive innovation and facilitate collaborative partnerships. The conversation, moderated by Thibaut L'Ortye, Senior Director of Public Affairs, AmCham EU, highlighted the significant influence competition rules have on shaping markets. 

The final panel focused on reinforcing EU-US cooperation in competition enforcement. Inge Bernaerts, Director, Policy and Strategy, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission, emphasised the continued importance of collaboration around shared visions and values between regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Kevin Buckley, Vice-President, Global Government Affairs, Johnson & Johnson, highlighted the private sector’s need for predictability and standards to support innovation. Philip Lowe, Senior Advisor, Kekst CNC, reflected on mutual lessons to be drawn from the European and US approaches to enforcement, including the value of the Single Market as a driver of growth and prosperity. Moderated by Natalie McNelis, Bureau Chief, Mergermarket/PaRR, the panel reaffirmed the continued importance of transatlantic alignment and the Single Market to foster economic resilience and competitiveness. 

Thank you to everyone who attended, as well as our Premium sponsor Google and our Media Partner MLex. 

In early October, representatives from American Chambers of Commerce across Europe and Eurasia came together in Kotor, Montenegro for the 2025 AmChams in Europe (ACE) Best Practices Conference. The annual event is a forum to strengthen the collective voice of the AmCham in Europe network, exchange views on the evolving business environment and foster closer collaboration across borders. The conference offers an opportunity to compare approaches and contribute to the impact of the network. 

From AmCham EU, Malte Lohan, CEO, and Thibaut L’Ortye, Senior Director of Public Affairs, took part, joining colleagues from across the network to discuss shared priorities and reinforce cooperation.The programme featured workshops on a wide range of topics aimed at sharing best practices across Chambers. AmCham Slovenia was awarded the Creative Network Award for its YOUng platform, an initiative aimed at nurturing the personal and professional growth of emerging business leaders. 

Thanks to AmCham Montenegro for hosting this year’s conference and to AmCham Greece for coordinating the Secretariat. 

About AmChams in Europe 

Founded in 1963, AmChams in Europe serves as the umbrella organization for 49 American Chambers of Commerce from 47 countries across Europe and Eurasia, representing the interests of over 17,000 member companies and $1.1 trillion in investments. The network strengthens transatlantic economic relations, promotes a business-friendly environment, and connects Europe and the United States in the spirit of cooperation and shared growth.