Three summits last week—G-7, NATO, and U.S.-EU—launched a wide range of transatlantic initiatives to coordinate policy, particularly on trade, technology, and defense. These new formats and dialogues can ensure a much deeper level of regulatory cooperation between the United States and Europe by exchanging perspectives, briefing materials, and in some cases, staff. For companies on both sides of the Atlantic, these emerging policy trends also open up new opportunities to engage decision-makers both in Washington and European capitals.

U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council

In what is perhaps the most significant transatlantic institutional innovation in decades, the two sides established a new format of structured meetings through the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), as previewed six months ago. Its standing members are the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Trade Representative, as well as the European Commissioners for Trade and for Competition. Other European Commissioners and U.S. Cabinet members may also be invited as appropriate. It appears to have broad industry support among firms and associations. And given the slew of legislative proposals in the EU aimed at the technology sector, including the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and the Artificial Intelligence regulation, there will be much for both sides to discuss.

The TTC will initially include ten working groups: on technology standards cooperation (including on AI, Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies); climate and green tech; secure supply chains, including semiconductors; ICT security and competitiveness; data governance and technology platforms; the misuse of technology threatening security and human rights; export controls; investment screening, promoting SMEs access to, and use of, digital technologies; and global trade challenges.

The Council’s goals are “to grow the bilateral trade and investment relationship; to avoid new unnecessary technical barriers to trade; to coordinate, seek common ground, and strengthen global cooperation on technology, digital issues, and supply chains; to support collaborative research and exchanges; to cooperate on compatible and international standards development; to facilitate regulatory policy and enforcement cooperation and, where possible, convergence; to promote innovation and leadership by U.S. and European firms; and to strengthen other areas of cooperation.”

One way to understand this new initiative is as a meta-interagency process to analyze the underlying issues, generate policy options, build consensus, communicate guidance, and take decisions. The TTC is explicit about preserving the “regulatory autonomy” of the U.S. and the EU. But inherently, it will nonetheless shape policy outcomes and regulatory approaches.

The TTC’s structured, systematic, and detailed framework suggests that it will be much more than a mere exchange of talking points. Instead, it signals genuine consultation and collaboration with the aim of common decisions on the underlying topics. The universalization of video-conferencing over the past eighteen months may further facilitate this ambitious level of transatlantic coordination. And cooperation within the TTC is intended to drive efforts within broader institutions such as the G-7’s and OECD’s Future Tech Forum, with the goal of “promoting a democratic model of digital governance.”

Technology Competition Policy Dialogue

In parallel with the TTC, the U.S. and EU also launched a Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue to discuss antitrust policy and enforcement and increased cooperation in relation to technology-related issues. Notably, the two sides committed to establish a staff exchange program between their research funding agencies. They also singled out cybersecurity information sharing and situational awareness as an area of focus, and planned to explore developing a new research initiative on biotechnology and genomics.

Further details need to be determined regarding the participants and topics for discussion. But, in the spirit of the TTC and the overall commitment to renew the transatlantic partnership, it is likely to become an active space for collaboration, particularly given recent U.S. legislative proposals such as Trust-Busting for the Twenty-First Century Act (S.1074), Platform Competition and Opportunity Act (H.R. 3826), and Ending Platform Monopolies Act (H.R. 3825).

Dialogue on Security and Defense

Technology issues are also likely to feature as part of the new U.S.-EU Dialogue on Security and Defense, on the model of similar formats with Norway, Canada, Japan, and Korea. The initiative aims to provide a framework for enhanced consultations, which will bring together the respective institutions responsible for foreign affairs, defense, and national security on both sides of the Atlantic. Its broad scope builds on recent U.S.-EU defense cooperation initiatives, such as the U.S. participation in PESCO project on military mobility. The two sides also committed to work towards an “Administrative Arrangement” for the U.S. with the European Defence Agency to facilitate further collaboration on defense.

In addition to the U.S.-EU format, technology is also prominent on NATO’s agenda, which launched a civil-military Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic as well as a NATO Innovation Fund to “support start-ups working on dual-use emerging and disruptive technologies.” Given that the EU’s proposed regulation on AI explicitly carved out from its scope AI systems “developed or used exclusively for military purposes,” this could be an active area for defense and technology firms.

Finally, technology concerns will intersect with other transatlantic dialogues launched on Russia, particularly on threats from criminal ransomware networks, as well as on China. Indeed, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260) recently passed by the Senate—$250 billion to spur American manufacturing and technology, including $52 billion for the U.S. semiconductor industry—is widely viewed as part of the “long-term strategic competition with China.”

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The team at Covington is well placed to advise you on these policy developments, and how to engage with the relevant decision-makers in these areas.

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Photo of Marty Hansen Marty Hansen

Martin Hansen has over two decades of experience representing some of the world’s leading innovative companies in the internet, IT, e-commerce, and life sciences sectors on a broad range of regulatory, intellectual property, and competition issues, including related to artificial intelligence. Martin has…

Martin Hansen has over two decades of experience representing some of the world’s leading innovative companies in the internet, IT, e-commerce, and life sciences sectors on a broad range of regulatory, intellectual property, and competition issues, including related to artificial intelligence. Martin has extensive experience in advising clients on matters arising under EU and U.S. law, UK law, the World Trade Organization agreements, and other trade agreements.

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Photo of Holly Fechner Holly Fechner

Holly Fechner advises clients on complex public policy matters that combine legal and political opportunities and risks. She leads teams that represent companies, entities, and organizations in significant policy and regulatory matters before Congress and the Executive Branch.

She is a co-chair of…

Holly Fechner advises clients on complex public policy matters that combine legal and political opportunities and risks. She leads teams that represent companies, entities, and organizations in significant policy and regulatory matters before Congress and the Executive Branch.

She is a co-chair of the Covington’s Technology Industry Group and a member of the Covington Political Action Committee board of directors.

Holly works with clients to:

  • Develop compelling public policy strategies
  • Research law and draft legislation and policy
  • Draft testimony, comments, fact sheets, letters and other documents
  • Advocate before Congress and the Executive Branch
  • Form and manage coalitions
  • Develop communications strategies

She is the Executive Director of Invent Together and a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She serves on the board of directors of the American Constitution Society.

Holly served as Policy Director for Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Chief Labor and Pensions Counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee.

She received The American Lawyer, “Dealmaker of the Year” award in 2019. The Hill named her a “Top Lobbyist” from 2013 to the present, and she has been ranked by Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers from 2012 to the present. One client noted to Chambers: “Holly is an exceptional attorney who excels in government relations and policy discussions. She has an incisive analytical skill set which gives her the capability of understanding extremely complex legal and institutional matters.” According to another client surveyed by Chambers, “Holly is incredibly intelligent, effective and responsive. She also leads the team in a way that brings out everyone’s best work.”

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Photo of Lisa Peets Lisa Peets

Lisa Peets is co-chair of the firm’s Technology and Communications Regulation Practice Group and a member of the firm’s global Management Committee. Lisa divides her time between London and Brussels, and her practice encompasses regulatory compliance and investigations alongside legislative advocacy. For more…

Lisa Peets is co-chair of the firm’s Technology and Communications Regulation Practice Group and a member of the firm’s global Management Committee. Lisa divides her time between London and Brussels, and her practice encompasses regulatory compliance and investigations alongside legislative advocacy. For more than two decades, she has worked closely with many of the world’s best-known technology companies.

Lisa counsels clients on a range of EU and UK legal frameworks affecting technology providers, including data protection, content moderation, artificial intelligence, platform regulation, copyright, e-commerce and consumer protection, and the rapidly expanding universe of additional rules applicable to technology, data and online services.

Lisa also supports Covington’s disputes team in litigation involving technology providers.

According to Chambers UK (2024 edition), “Lisa provides an excellent service and familiarity with client needs.”

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Photo of Bart Szewczyk Bart Szewczyk

Having served in senior advisory positions in the U.S. government, Bart Szewczyk advises on European and global public policy, particularly on technology, economic sanctions and asset seizure, trade and foreign investment, business and human rights, and environmental, social, and governance issues, as well…

Having served in senior advisory positions in the U.S. government, Bart Szewczyk advises on European and global public policy, particularly on technology, economic sanctions and asset seizure, trade and foreign investment, business and human rights, and environmental, social, and governance issues, as well as conducts international arbitration. He also teaches grand strategy as an Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po in Paris and is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund.

Bart recently worked as Advisor on Global Affairs at the European Commission’s think-tank, where he covered a wide range of foreign policy issues, including international order, defense, geoeconomics, transatlantic relations, Russia and Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and China and Asia. Previously, between 2014 and 2017, he served as Member of Secretary John Kerry’s Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. Department of State, where he covered Europe, Eurasia, and global economic affairs. From 2016 to 2017, he also concurrently served as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, where he worked on refugee policy. He joined the U.S. government from teaching at Columbia Law School, as one of two academics selected nationwide for the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship. He has also consulted for the World Bank and Rasmussen Global.

Prior to government, Bart was an Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, where he worked on international law and U.S. foreign relations law. Before academia, he taught international law and international organizations at George Washington University Law School, and served as a visiting fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies. He also clerked at the International Court of Justice for Judges Peter Tomka and Christopher Greenwood and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for the late Judge Leonard Garth.

Bart holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University where he studied as a Gates Scholar, a J.D. from Yale Law School, an M.P.A. from Princeton University, and a B.S. in economics (summa cum laude) from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Harvard International Law Journal, Columbia Journal of European Law, American Journal of International Law, George Washington Law Review, Survival, and elsewhere. He is the author of three books: Europe’s Grand Strategy: Navigating a New World Order (Palgrave Macmillan 2021); with David McKean, Partners of First Resort: America, Europe, and the Future of the West (Brookings Institution Press 2021); and European Sovereignty, Legitimacy, and Power (Routledge 2021).

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Photo of Marney Cheek Marney Cheek

Marney Cheek co-chairs Covington’s International Arbitration and Disputes practice and has advised companies, non-governmental organizations, and governments on high-stakes international disputes and legal strategy for more than 20 years.

Marney serves as both counsel and advocate before numerous international arbitral tribunals and courts…

Marney Cheek co-chairs Covington’s International Arbitration and Disputes practice and has advised companies, non-governmental organizations, and governments on high-stakes international disputes and legal strategy for more than 20 years.

Marney serves as both counsel and advocate before numerous international arbitral tribunals and courts, including the International Court of Justice and major arbitral institutions such as the AAA, ICSID, PCA, and SIAC. She represents clients in complex international business disputes, having successfully defended a client in a $1.8 billion claim filed by a collaboration partner. Ms. Cheek serves as both counsel and arbitrator in numerous investment treaty arbitrations. She is an expert on public international law and currently represents the Government of Ukraine in its landmark cases before the International Court of Justice adverse to the Russian Federation, including Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation). In addition to leading complex investment treaty and international commercial disputes under the rules of major arbitral institutions, Marney routinely advises clients on public international law matters and issues arising under numerous multilateral treaties. She also is at the forefront of business and human rights disputes, having represented global labor unions in the first binding arbitration brought under a business and human rights compact, the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

Drawing upon her experience as Associate General Counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Marney routinely counsels clients on international trade matters and is a member of the roster of arbitrators for several U.S. free trade agreements. Her pro bono work includes representation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among other matters.

Marney is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as a Vice President of the American Society of International Law. She has previously taught investment law at Columbia University School of Law. She is recognized as an “extraordinarily thoughtful” and “creative” lawyer with a “wealth of knowledge” on international law matters in Chambers and Legal 500.

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