The Honorable Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland addressed the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the impact the European Union has had on Ireland, and the significance of the Treaty for the transatlantic relationship. He highlighted the importance of climate change, energy security and the economy as key global issues the European Union continues to tackle. Underlining the need for a coherent European voice to drive global policy on critical matters, he noted that the European Union is an evolutionary process and that now is the time for the EU to emerge with a unified vision for progress.

In his first public speaking engagement since assuming his new position, The Honorable Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs addressed the Obama Administration’s transatlantic policy and provided an overview of key priorities as the United States seeks to strengthen its political, economic and strategic ties with Europe. Speaking to an audience consisting of 17 European and Eurasian Ambassadors - including His Excellency Sergey Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States, as well as members of The European Institute’s Board of Directors and Advisors, he pointed to the U.S. interest in closer cooperation with European allies and suggested that pragmatic cooperation between Moscow and Washington also offered a way forward amid so many global challenges for both countries.

As French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party exceeded expectations to win 28.5% of the vote the European parliamentary elections, a top-level delegation from the French National Assembly’s Committee for European Affairs, led by Pierre Lequiller, UMP Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs, assessed the implications of these elections on Europe’s governance, and offered their perspectives on prospects for greater transatlantic cooperation on economic, security and environmental issues. The delegation included Michel Herbillon, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs; Bernard Deflesselles, Second Vice President of the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) Group of the National Assembly and Member of the Committee for European Affairs; and Jerome Lambert, Member of the Commission of Laws and the Committee for European Affairs.
The Honorable Péter Balázs, Foreign Minister for the Republic of Hungary, discussed the challenges facing Hungary during this current economic downturn and their impact on Europe and the transatlantic relationship. He also reviewed the results of the European Parliamentary elections and their implications for the future of Europe.
This meeting hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, addressed trade issues in light of the current economic crisis and declining trade. Speakers included: Mauro Petriccione, European Commission's DG Trade Director for bilateral relations including the United States and China; Dr. Tihomir Stoytchev, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of Republic of Bulgaria; and William “Bill” Craft, Jr., Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Programs at the U.S. Department of State.  All of the panelists agreed that despite the economic crisis, it is vital to avoid protectionism policies and that transatlantic cooperation is needed to keep world trade markets open.