Brussels, 19/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, now simply referred to "AmCham EU" (American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union) recently published its 20036 report in which it sets out the progress accomplished since lst year, such as its change of status, making it into an entirely independent organisation. Amcham is the voice of around 130 multinationals in the dialogue with European governments and institutions. The 2003 report looks at the work done on enlargement, the elaboration of the European constitution, negotiations on the Doha Round and support granted to the EU so that it reaches the Lisbon objectives.
Three examples explain Amcham EU's satisfaction with 2003: the EU directive on unfair trade practices in the area of consumer protection, where it played an important role in the legislative process by getting its voice heard on: its very active commitment on the directive to reduce transport noise. Amcham sent delegations to Italy, Portugal and Germany to discuss regional and national issues with the intention of preventing the extensions of night flight bans, which it considered as a threat to the efficient functioning of the single market; collaboration with DG Taxation and the European Commission's customs union in the search for a single customs system in the EU, whose competitiveness would subsequently be strengthened.
Since September 2002, Amcham has had four priorities: an efficient European institutional structure; 2) competitiveness within the single market; 3) an open and global trade policy; 4) a coherent and balanced sustainable development approach; 5) EU progress in the digital economy.