European Institute

On January 18, 2013, The European Institute hosted a discussion with Ambassador Terry Kramer, head of the U.S. Delegation to the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), on the successes and disappointments of WCIT-12, during which he shared his assessment of the prospects for continued transatlantic cooperation in maintaining a free and open internet. H.E. Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to the United States offered opening remarks, and Patricia Paoletta, Partner at Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, moderated the lively exchange on views on Internet freedom, the criticality of open markets and commercial agreements, multi-stakeholder governance, and transparency. The event was graciously hosted by the Embassy of Greece.

On December 13, 2012, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Embassy of Portugal, held a seminar on the opportunities for greater transatlantic cooperation on blue growth, as both sides of the Atlantic seek to make the most of economic and innovation opportunities offered by the oceans. The transatlantic implications of the Panama Canal's expansion on U.S. and European maritime infrastructure,shipping sectors and global trade were also examined. Speakers included: Professor Manuel Pinto Abreu, Portugal’s Secretary of State of Sea; Tommy Beaudreau, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior; Dr. David Conover, Director, Division of Ocean Science at the National Science Foundation; Greg Edwards, Director of External Affairs at the Virginia Port Authority; Yvette Fields, Director of Deepwater Ports and Offshore Activities, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Arthur Moye, Executive Vice President of the Virginia Maritime Association; Lidia Sequeira, President of Portugal’s Port of Sines; and The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, Co-Chair of the Oceans Caucus in the United States Senate. Dr. Wayne Talley, Economics Professor and Executive Director, International Maritime, Ports and Logistics Management Institute at Old Dominion University moderated the discussion.

On December 17, 2012, The European Institute held its Annual Ambassadors' Dinner honoring The Honorable Robert Hormats, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. Under Secretary Hormats highlighted key opportunities for greater U.S.-EU economic cooperation in the coming year, including the prospects and challenges of reaching a comprehensive trade agreement. The event was co-hosted by the 36 European Ambassadors of the Ambassadorial Host Committee.

Click here to read Secretary Hormats's remarks.

On November 30, 2012, The European Institute held a special discussion with The Honorable Danuta Hübner, Member of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development and former European Commissioner for Regional Policy. Mrs. Hübner discussed the myths of the European economic crisis and detailed what government institutions, particularly the European Parliament, are doing to resolve the crisis.