TRANSATLANTIC PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY THROUGH THE TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL (TEC)

Created in 2007 the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) is a political body to oversee and accelerate government-to-government cooperation with the aim of advancing economic integration between the European Union and the United States of America. At the EU-US Summit on 30 April 2007, Commission President Barroso, German Chancellor Merkel and US President Bush signed the " Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration between the United States of America and the European Union. Key elements of this framework were the adoption of a work programme of cooperation, and the establishment of the TEC to oversee, guide and accelerate the implemention of this work programme. The Vice-President for Enterprise and Industry chaired the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) from its inception in 2007 until 2009. Currently, the TEC is chaired by the European Commisioner for Trade and the White House  Deputy National Special Advisor for International Economic Affairs.

The co-chairs have jointly developed a set of working arrangements  that should make this Council a useful and effective tool to attain their common objectives.

The Transatlantic Economic Council brings together those Members of the European Commission and US Cabinet Members who carry the political responsibility for the policy areas covered by the Framework e.g. Regulatory burdens, Intellectual Property Rights, Secure Trade, Financial Markets, Innovation and Technology, Investment.

Stakeholders and Advisors of the Transatlantic Economic Council include:

• The Atlantic Council
• The Bertelsmann Foundation
• Business Europe
• European-American Business Council
• Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue (TABD)
• Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD)
• Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD)
• Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN)
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce

It is clear that any public policy advocacy effort should involve any of the above stakeholders and advisors.