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Category: Roundtables

Created on 09 April 2013

On April 9, 2013, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur (CCE), welcomed Hiddo Houben, Minister-Counselor and Head of the Trade Section at the Delegation of the European Union, for a discussion about the prospects for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Michael Smart, Vice President at Rock Creek Global Advisors LLC, moderated the lively discussion that followed.

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Category: Roundtables

Created on 05 April 2013

On April 5, 2013, The European Institute hosted a discussion with Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights, and Citizenship. Vice President Reding outlined the “ambitious and controversial” goal of a “United States of Europe” in which a federal political system would be of full measure with Europe’s global economic clout. Key would be the popular election of the European Commission President and the establishment of a bicameral legislature with one house representing E.U. member states and the second representing the people. Jacqueline Grapin, Founder and co-chair of the Board of Directors of The European Institute, offered opening remarks, noting that there was no one better to “address the institutional coordination and democratization” of the EU than Vice President Reding.

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Category: Roundtables

Created on 18 March 2013

On March 18, 2013, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland, Marine Institute Ireland, and the Delegation of the European Union, organized an event featuring Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO of Marine Institute Ireland. Dr. John Delaney, Professor of Oceanography at the University of Washington, moderated the discussion and Cathy O’Connor, First Secretary at the Embassy of Ireland, offered opening remarks. Dr. Heffernan argued that the Atlantic Ocean is a largely untapped resource and a potential source of great economic growth for the U.S. and the EU, especially in times of financial distress. He also stressed the importance of close collaboration between Europe and the United States and that their shared interests can be a good starting point for deeper transatlantic maritime cooperation and increasing “blue growth.”

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Category: Roundtables

Created on 05 March 2013

On March 5, 2013, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy and the Delegation of the European Union, organized a discussion with Dr. Patrick Gallagher, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Giuseppe Abbamonte, Head of the Trust and Security Unit at DG CONNECT of European Commission, on transatlantic cooperation on cybersecurity. Luca Franchetti Pardo, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Italy, offered welcoming remarks and stressed the importance that Italy and the EU attach to cybersecurity. As the EU continues to pursue a Digital Single Market, cyber-threats have become an urgent matter to be addressed. Both Dr. Gallagher and Mr. Abbamonte emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, the measures being taken to enhance it in the U.S. and the EU, and recognized the shared values as imperative for increased European-American cooperation in this field.

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Category: Roundtables

Created on 13 February 2013

On February 13, 2013, The European Institute hosted a discussion with Robert-Jan Smits, Director General of DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission, on the EU’s new strategic approach to international research and innovation cooperation. With U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement of the launch of talks for a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Mr. Smits said that both sides of the Atlantic were “rediscovering each other”, and that the common understanding of the potency of innovation as a prime motor for sustainable economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness augured well for increased European-American cooperation. Anna McDermott-Vitak, Executive Director of Global Government Affairs at Amgen, Inc, offered opening remarks, and Dr. Elias Carayannis, Professor of Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at George Washington University, moderated the lively exchange. 

Mr. Smits' remarks are available here.