On September 22, 2011, The Honorable Christian Syse, Deputy Secretary General of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed Norway’s unique role within the transatlantic alliance, as a founding member of NATO and as an important partner of the European Union. Just shy of EU membership, Norway’s active role is by no means limited to its’ engagement in the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area, as witnessed by the nation’s consistent efforts to further greater social and economic cohesion in Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Syse also offered insights into the future of Norway’s relationship with the European Union, and the considerable challenges facing both Europe and the United States.
This European Affairs article, written and going to press before last week’s tragic events in
Norway, has been given a topical introduction to provide some context (without any prediction)
about the growth of populist parties in Europe.
On July 12, 2011, The European Institute held a special meeting of the Transatlantic Roundtable on EU-U.S.-Russia Triangular Relations, with His Excellency Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Minister Lavrov offered his perspective on Russia’s foreign policy within the framework of euro-atlantic relations, focusing on a wide range of key issues including, proposed missile defense systems in Europe; implications of the Arab awakening, with particular emphasis on Libya and Syria; progress of the Middle East Quartet’s efforts to restart the peace process; Russia accession to the WTO, as well as his nation’s push to diversify and modernize its economy.
Click here to read the full text of Minister Lavrov's remarks.
On July 7, 2011, The Honorable András Kármán, Hungarian State Secretary for Tax and Financial Regulation at the Ministry of National Economy, who personally coordinated the negotiations between EU Member States and the European Parliament during Hungary’s Presidency of the European Council, on a number of key legislative initiatives, including the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, offered his insight into what was accomplished and the challenges that still lay ahead in the European Union’s push for sustainable financial and economic stability.
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