The US-Europe Partnership
Strengthening the US-Europe Partnership
The inaugural International Leaders Summit policy event bringing together business, government and media leaders from America and Europe took place on the European continent in November 2004. The policy event focused on strengthening the transatlantic partnership, advancing a free trade agreement, promoting principled policy ideas and addressing economic and judicial reforms in the Eastern Europe.
Today, the International Leaders Summit engages elected officials from both sides of the Atlantic joined by policymakers, business and media leaders to address the 21st century challenges including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the region's long-term security concerns, creating energy independence, jump-starting the strategic endeavor of a fair and reciprocal free trade agreement between America and sovereign EU nations, and addressing cyber security attacks and theft of intellectual property by countries including China.
The discussions on technology and AI are at the forefront in order to mitigate AI risks and harness AI opportunities for the future. The International Leaders Summit is dedicated to contribute to creating a framework for the ethical and responsible development of AI and to support technological advances which take into consideration societal concerns and the overall efforts to sustain economic growth.
One key strategic area is to ensure that free enterprise flourishes in America and Europe with policy initiatives that reduce burdensome regulation for small and medium size enterprises.
According to published reports, there are 33.2 million small businesses in America, which combined account for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses.
Some 63% of the new jobs created from 1995 to 2021 in America are credited to small businesses.
On the European front, Statista provides this updated report :
- There were estimated to be approximately 23.1 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union in 2022, with the vast majority of these enterprises micro-sized firms which only employed fewer than nine people. A further 1.35 million enterprises were small firms with between 10 and 49 employees and approximately 206,592 were medium-sized firms that had 50 to 249 employers.
- SMEs are an important part of the European economy, but their value to each country varies quite significantly. In Malta for example, 93.1 percent of value added to the economy comes from SMEs, while in Germany 82 percent of the county's added value comes from SMEs. For the European Union, the average value that SMEs contribute to the economy is around 56 percent.
- Almost 84 million employed by SMEs
- In 2021 SME’s in the European Union employed almost 84 million people. In Europe’s biggest economy, Germany, SMEs employed 18.5 million people, with over 6.8 million people employed by small-sized enterprises alone.
Creating Synergy | Expanding the Abraham Accords and Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance's Partnership with India and Israel
In addressing the 21st century's challenges, America and Europe's sovereign states will benefit by engaging India and Israel on the economic, security, trade and technology fronts. The importance of supporting people to people exchanges, advancing educational and trade incentives and identifying solutions will benefit citizens and provide economic opportunities to all.
America and Europe have an opportunity to build on the successful Abraham Accords and support a free trade agreement for signatories of the peace initiative.
American-European Leaders Summit | Brussels — Washington, DC | A Strategic High-Level Event | Freedom, Trade and Security
Brussels | Washington, DC — July 3, 2023 | The International Leaders Summit led by co-founders Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy in partnership with Chairman Manfred Weber and Chairman Mike Bost co-hosted the inaugural American-Eurppean Leaders Summit at the European Parliament on June 27, 2023. The bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation led by Congressman Mike Bost, chairman, U.S. House Veterans Affairs’ Committee (HVAC) included five members of Congress who traveled to the European continent.
The event's organizing body consisted of leadership board members of International Leaders Summit including Natasha Srdoc, Joel Anand Samy, Dr. Paul Rübig, Tracy Bost and other distinguished members.
European Leadership
The European leadership participating in the strategic summit meeting included Manfred Weber, chairman, Group of the European People's Party and president of the European People's Party; David McAllister, chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs and member, Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, substitute, Committee on International Trade and Delegation for relations with the United States; Radosław Sikorski , chair, Delegation for relations with the United States, member, Committee on Foreign Affairs and member, Subcommittee on Security and Defense and Rasa Juknevičiene, vice-chair, subcommittee on Security and Defense and former Minister of Defense of Lithuania (2008 to 2012).
American Leadership
The US Congressional delegation included Marine Corps veteran Mike Bost, chairman, Veterans' Affairs Committee and member of Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Agriculture Committee; Mark Takano, ranking member of HVAC and member, House Education and the Workforce Committee; Scott Franklin, member, House Appropriations Committee, member, HVAC and House Science, Space and Technology Committee; Mariannettee Miller-Meeks, member the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, member, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health; Derrick Van Orden and High Chief Uifa'atali Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, vice chairman, House Veterans Affairs Committee, member, House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chairman of the Indo-Pacific Task Force and Derrick Van Orden, member, the House Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Strategic Topics Discussed | Freedom, Trade and Security
- Strengthening the Europe-US partnership | Addressing security and humanitarian issues impacting the European continent.
- Trade between America and Europe | Discussing the merits of engaging key stakeholders in the benefits of a fair, reciprocal and free trade initiative and expanding investments.
- Focus on the Balkans and the Eastern Europe region | China and Russia's growing economic influence in the region, persistent political corruption in the Balkans blocking investments from the United States and other strong rule of law nations within Europe.
- Advancing an American-European partnership to expand the Abraham Accords.
America and Germany: An Opportunity to Advance Free and Fair Trade and Strengthen the Transatlantic Relationship
By Natasha Srdoc, MBA, and Joel Anand Samy, Co-Founders of US-based International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit and Dr. Stefan Gehrold, former Member of the European Parliament, Germany, Head of the Office, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Hermann Ehlers Education Forum Weser-Ems, Germany, and former head of KAS Brussels Office.
“Free and fair trade brings growth and opportunity and creates jobs.”— President Ronald Reagan, Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade, August 2, 1986
On April 27, 2018, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. This high-level meeting held by the two nation’s top elected leaders provides an opportunity to affirm the significance of the transatlantic economic and security partnership and its common vision on long-term strategic interests. In announcing the official meeting, The White House issued a statement relaying that the leaders would “address a broad range of geopolitical and economic challenges.”
America and Germany’s shared values and principles bring these nations together, founded on the rule of law, the bedrock of free societies, protecting life, liberty and private property. The foundational rule of law advances free enterprise and economic opportunity for all. Some 300 years ago, thirteen families established the first German settlement in the American Colonies. Over the centuries this community shaped American industries and contributed to the arts and sciences. Today, more American citizens claim German ancestry than any other.
The recent issues and points of contention brought forth on the vital economic front ought to encourage both sides to prudently review trade opportunities and investments through candid and open discussion, with an emphasis on advancing sound policy and principled solutions. Going forward, America and Germany’s stakeholders have much to gain or lose depending on the outcome of these important talks.
In recognizing Germany’s dynamic role as the European Union’s economic powerhouse, a trading block of 27 nations and 440 million consumers (taking into consideration Britain’s exit), and America, representing the world’s largest economy with 327 million consumers, both sides should urgently work toward reducing trade barriers and removing burdensome regulations. Principled reforms would benefit companies large and small, leading to higher levels of economic growth.
Germany’s steady growth can be attributed to Chancellor Merkel’s leadership as a champion of free trade and proponent of reforms. Andre Tartar and Sam Dodge in an article via Bloomberg stated, “Merkel’s political longevity is linked inextricably with her credentials:
Unemployment is down by half since she first took office in 2005. Growth reached an average of 2 percent in her second term while the rest of Europe limped along at a fraction of that.”
According to last week’s Reuters report, “The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday raised its forecast for German economic growth, predicting a healthy 2.5 percent expansion for Europe’s biggest economy this year.”
Trade protectionism through raised tariffs and archaic trade restrictions would be detrimental for citizens and enterprises on both sides of the Atlantic. It would be prudent to boldly advocate a level playing field, pursue free and fair trade, and increase trade openness which spurs competition and innovation, benefiting consumers.
There is empirical evidence that free trade works for the benefit of all parties involved.
President Trump has stated the importance of revitalizing America’s manufacturing base. The newly introduced 21 percent corporate tax rate, reduced from the high 39 percent, has proven to be an incentive for U.S. multinational companies publicly announcing measures to bring back profits to America, rather than storing it abroad.
Co-authored by Natasha Srdoc, MBA, and Joel Anand Samy, Co-Founders of US-based International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit and Dr. Stefan Gehrold, former Member of the European Parliament, Germany, Head of the Office, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Hermann Ehlers Education Forum Weser-Ems, Germany, and former head of KAS Brussels Office.
For the full text, please visit the link provided: https://www.westernjournal.com/america-germany-opportunity-advance-free-and-fair-trade-strengthen-transatlantic-relationship/
The article was first posted by Western Journal.
Expanding Abraham Accords, strengthening Israel’s alliances top agenda at Jerusalem Summit — JNS
Excerpt from the article published by The Jewish News Syndicate:
Paul Ruebig, a member of the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee and a member of the governing board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, spoke about Israel as a “wonderful partner” for Europe in a host of fields thanks to its technological prowess, including in water, agriculture and artificial intelligence.
Israel, thanks to its gas fields, could play a major role in energy as well, particularly after the crisis following the Ukraine war. Ruebig said fossil fuels aren’t going anywhere. “It’s clear that we need any kind of energy production if we want to cope with the demand in the future,” he said.
He raised questions about the feasibility of Europe’s renewable plans. “We always should look if it’s possible from the engineering point of view to deliver. We’ve checked in Germany. They would need 35,000 additional windmills,” he said.
He said a consortium between Israel and neighboring countries like Cyprus and Egypt could create an “energy platform” that would be a win-win for Israel and Europe.