On February 19, 2022, the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany hosted its 31st Transatlantic Partnership Award (TAPA). This year, the signature event took place as an official side event of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and centered around the theme "Evaluating Priorities for Renewed Transatlantic Security and Economic Cooperation." AmCham Germany brought together decision makers from Germany, Europe and the U.S., including a high-level Congressional delegation led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, with representatives from the transatlantic business community to attend the award ceremony.
Since 1987, AmCham Germany has presented the prestigious TAPA to outstanding individuals or institutions who have made special contributions to the transatlantic partnership. Past award winners include Bill Gates, German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki, and Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference.
In 2022, AmCham Germany presented the award to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg personally accepted the award, which was handed over to him by Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, the last TAPA recipient in 2018. The award ceremony was followed by a dinner, which took place at Brasserie Oskar Maria.
The event was kicked off with a short opening by AmCham Germany President Simone Menne. She thanked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ambassador Ischinger, Members of the German Bundestag as well as U.S. Congress and representatives from the transatlantic business community for gathering in-person in Munich for an evening full of networking and exchange with high-level guests from both sides of the Atlantic.
During their keynote speeches, Christina Raab, Market Unit Lead Accenture DACH and Russia, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, and Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of transatlantic cooperation. Christina Raab underlined the continued need to foster transatlantic cooperation to face the many challenges ahead. Ambassador Ischinger underscored how many of the previous assumptions we have lived comfortably with in recent decades are now being challenged. He showed his personal gratitude for the fact that NATO was recognized with the award during this year’s Munich Security Conference. Finally, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accepted the award on behalf of NATO, emphasizing the importance of the organization in creating an environment for peace and thereby laying the foundation for wealth and prosperity.
We would like to thank all our distinguished guests and speakers who attended this year's award ceremony. In particular, our gratitude goes to our cooperation partner Accenture, without whom this event would not have been possible.
