European Institute

Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor, addressed the transatlantic debate over data privacy, focusing on the EU’s existing data protection system and the risks posed by constant technological innovation as well as increased demands by law enforcement officials on both sides of the Atlantic for deeper and more immediate data exchanges. Paul Rosenzweig, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Homeland Security, offered the U.S. perspective on building an effective law enforcement framework for the sharing of personal data. Yael Weinman, Counsel for International Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission gave the consumer protection aspect. The meeting was moderated by James Halpert, Partner, DLA Piper.

The Hon. Dimitrios Katsoudas, Secretary General for European Affairs at the Greek Foreign Ministry, hosted by H.E. Alexandros Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the United States. Mr. Katsoudas discussed current and potential issues that would arise from a future EU enlargement and the challenges that the integration of new countries would represent for the evolution of the Union. He also offered his perspective about the possibility of a Mediterranean Union which would broaden the EU’s limits and would likely enhance partnership with neighboring countries.

Dr. Isi Saragossi, Director of the European Commission’s “European Research Area: Knowledge-Based Economy” directorate, and Dr. Charles Wessner, Director of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The National Academies in Washington, D.C. discussed the priorities of U.S. and European research policy and the challenges and opportunities for policy makers and the scientific communities. The discussion was moderated by Kathleen Kingscott, IBM Industry Chair and Visiting Professor, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University.

As New Jersey abolished capital punishment, European and American decision makers and experts met to examine the divergent transatlantic approaches to the death penalty at a meeting convened in cooperation with the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council. Portugal has led the campaign for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The continued use of this practice by the U.S. remains a central point of contention in the transatlantic dialogue. In addition to H.E. João de Vallera, Ambassador of Portugal, participants included Laurence Rothenberg, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice (speaking on a personal basis) and Robert Blecker, Professor of Law at New York Law School who spoke for the death penalty. Richard Dieter, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center, and Deborah Fleischaker, Director of the Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project, American Bar Association reasoned for a moratorium on the death sentence. Robert Harris, Assistant Legal Advisor for Human Rights at the U.S. Department of State addressed the human rights issue. The discussion was moderated by Neil Lewis, Legal Correspondent from the New York Times.