AmCham EU hosted a special online Brussels Briefing with the participation of CEO Írisz Lippai-Nagy and 23 other AmCham leaders to discuss the direction of the European Union and share key information on current EU legislation, with a special focus on digitalization and the European Green Deal.
Keynote speaker Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament highlighted that our common goal is for Europe to be more resilient.
"It is extremely important to start the conversation about what we want to change in European integration, because Europe has been not just at a crossroads for several years, but at a roundabout with many exits without an idea where to go" - she said.
Maydell cited recent OECD data which shows that with a 4% projected growth for ’21 and ’22, the EU is lagging behind the United States where the economy is predicted grow by 8% this year according to Goldman Sachs. The slower growth rate is also a stark indicator that the transatlantic partnerships must be reset and prioritized in as many sectors as possible.
The MEP, who is the vice-president of SME Europe, also highlighted the urgency to keep the European SME scene vibrant, as they are more vulnarable during crisis times. According a recent IMF study Maydell quoted, if SMEs lose momentum, it could potentially lead to a concentration of power, and a decrease in innovation.
Maydell also invited European AmChams to put „tech and green” and more PPP (public-private partnerships) in the forefront of their advocacy efforts, as these initiaves are essential to secure a strong Europe going forward.
Maydell also urged AmChams to join the dialogue and provide strategic input in the Conference on the Future of Europe, a unique and large scale EU intiative which gives citizens a greater role in shaping the Union's future and a chance to address the most important topics, such as climate change, economic and social issues.
Following the keynote speech AmCham representatives joined two policy breakout sessions on digitalization and the Green Deal as well as a roundtable on communicating about the EU in the Members states.