Advancing Transatlantic Digital Cooperation: Global Business Briefing with the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs

The future of the digital economy will be shaped by how democracies align on trade, privacy, and technology governance. With the European Union advancing sweeping new regulations on artificial intelligence and data protection, and the United States prioritizing competitiveness and innovation, businesses face both opportunity and uncertainty in navigating transatlantic markets. To unpack these dynamics and explore where regulatory frameworks can converge, Meridian’s Corporate Council welcomed members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) for a Global Business Briefing on September 17, 2025. 

These Were the Top Takeaways from the Program

1. U.S.-EU Trade Remains a Core Pillar of the Transatlantic Relationship

Transatlantic trade between the United States and the EU represents the largest bilateral economic relationship in the world, accounting for nearly one-third of global GDP, with goods and services flowing at a rate of $1.3 trillion in 2024. To sustain such growth—and keep markets open—it will be critical to align on digital services, technology standards, and privacy frameworks. Platforms like the Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council (TTC) provide a structured forum to advance this agenda, but progress will depend on both political will and private sector input. A stronger trade framework not only bolsters competitiveness but also reinforces democratic values in a global marketplace shaped by rising competition from non-democratic actors. 

2. Regulatory Certainty Is Essential for Business, Especially SMEs

Fragmented and shifting regulatory regimes pose significant compliance burdens for companies on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unlike large multinationals, SMEs often lack the legal and financial resources to navigate multiple, and sometimes conflicting, rules across jurisdictions. Predictable and harmonized regulatory approaches would lower barriers to entry, expand opportunities for SMEs to scale internationally, and enhance supply chain resilience. Ensuring stability in trade and data rules is thus seen as not just a business concern, but a competitiveness imperative for transatlantic economies. 

3. Balancing Child Protection and Data Privacy Is a Growing Challenge

The debate over how to safeguard children online while protecting fundamental data privacy rights is intensifying across the EU and the U.S. Policymakers are weighing new measures that could require platforms to take stronger steps to prevent harm to minors, but these approaches often raise concerns about surveillance and data collection. Inconsistent standards in this area could complicate compliance and risk undermining public trust in digital services. Striking the right balance will require ongoing dialogue among regulators, industry, and civil society to ensure that child protection is strengthened without eroding the privacy rights guaranteed under frameworks such as the GDPR. 

4. Artificial Intelligence Regulation Needs Harmonization

The European Union’s landmark AI Act is the first comprehensive attempt to regulate artificial intelligence globally, but its fragmented implementation across member states has created uncertainty for companies. Inconsistent enforcement risks are creating a patchwork of rules that discourages investment and slows innovation. Harmonized, predictable AI regulation would give companies the confidence to expand responsible AI applications in areas such as healthcare, logistics, and cybersecurity, while ensuring robust ethical safeguards. Without regulatory coherence, there is a danger that Europe could fall behind in AI competitiveness compared to markets with more unified frameworks. 

5. Private Sector Investment Strengthens Transatlantic Ties

Business investment remains a cornerstone of the U.S.-EU relationship, driving economic growth while reinforcing shared resilience in the digital era. Cisco, for example, maintains approximately 400 offices globally and employs nearly 90,400 staff, including those in Europe. Pairing its physical footprint, Cisco has also made commitments to AI research and cybersecurity training, planning to train 1.5 million people in the EU by 2030. These efforts are illustrative of how the private sector not only generates jobs and builds local capacity but also enhances the security and competitiveness of transatlantic markets. By embedding innovation and skills development into their global operations, companies deepen the connective tissue of the U.S.-EU partnership. 

Project summary

Advancing Transatlantic Digital Cooperation: Global Business Briefing with the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs | September 2025
Impact Areas:	Business and Trade
Program Areas:	Corporate Diplomacy