Dear AmCham Members, Partners and Friends,
Last week was a very busy week for me in Lisbon attending the annual gathering of the Chairmen and CEOs of ACE, the American Chambers of Commerce in Europe. This group very strongly bonds together in solidarity and friendship in support of our shared mission to strengthen and support the Trans-Atlantic alliance among and between the United States and the countries of Europe. Our agenda was broad and comprehensive covering the key topics of: Status and future plans for relaunching and strengthening economic prosperity post COVID; Security and Defense challenges and solutions; Political challenges and consequences of recent and upcoming political elections in the US, at EU level and around Europe. We worked hard on these topics and fully committed ourselves to work together and within our countries to build success for the benefit of those we represent and serve. My colleagues and I here in Luxembourg well note and take heed of the challenges and initiatives raised at this annual conference and will implement appropriate actions into our AmCham.lu programs and initiatives going forward.
Currently the largest and strongest budgeted AmCham in Europe is in Ukraine. I am very pleased to be friends with their CEO and honored that he has invited me to join their Security and Defense committee. We will likewise discuss internal to AmCham.lu to decide if we, as well, should set up a similar Security and Defense committee. Related to this subject of security and defense, I am pleased to draw your attention to our lead Newsletter interview this week with Madam Yuriko Backes, our Luxembourg Minister of Defense, Transportation and Egality de Chance. I compliment her on all she is doing in these diverse but connected roles… and especially compliment her on the recent Luxembourg decision to do their upmost to fully fund, for the first time ever, Luxembourg’s 2% of GDP NATO contribution as jointly agreed between all of the NATO allies!
I came home Friday evening and immediately went to the launch of the excellent documentary film detailing the history and current status of Luxembourgers in America, which was prepared and presented for the very first time by Geoff Thompson. This film is a rich story beautifully told and, in my opinion is an absolute must see! AmCham will continue to support Geoff on this project and will be sure to post announcements of further showings going forward in the future.
If you have not yet read the lead interview of last week about the impact of the change of law eliminating barriers to spousal work permits, I encourage you to do so (just go to the Newsletter copy we sent you last week or to our website to find the lead joint interviews with Sylvie Schmit from European Relocation Services, Laurent Peusch from ADEM and Virginie Todesco from Fragomen).
Our thanks to the Lux Times for moderating and supporting the debate between the Republicans and Democrats abroad. Our hope was to have a discussion focused on areas of policy agreement and disagreement and compliment both sides for trying to do this. Be assured AmCham is politically non-partisan (but pro-business!).
Our Fall schedule of events is busy. Please have a look and sign up while there are still available seats. Please note that for the Thanksgiving Gala Dinner Event we only have two ten-person tables remaining and available!
I particularly encourage all of you to join our presentation on Transatlantic Trade and Investment taking place on 27 November. The alliance between the United States and Europe is the most successful driver of freedom and prosperity on the planet. Our inhabitants in Luxembourg are safe, living in freedom and enjoying a high degree of economic prosperity because of the political, economic and military convergence between the United States and the countries of Europe. This alliance is strong and successful because it encompasses all three pillars. NATO can not exist and be strong without being underpinned by a strong economic union and a political partnership based on common values, interests and alliance. In like manner, our sharing of common values, interests and partnerships enables and underpins our political alliance and opens the door for our hugely successful economic partnerships which has equally benefited both sides of the Atlantic ocean. We are so lucky to have this political, economic and defense convergence and must continually guard and promote it.
If ever you have something to say or ask of me, my email contact is: Paul@AmCham.lu.
With all respect and kindest regards,
Paul Schonenberg
Chairman and CEO
AmCham.lu
