On July 18, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Alain Lamassoure, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets and lead negotiator on the European Union’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework (2014-2020) to discuss the prospects and challenges facing the European Union. In a masterful presentation, Mr. Lamassoure outlined why the next 18 months will be decisive in determining the future of the European Union. This meeting was held in cooperation with the European Parliament Liaison Office with the U.S. Congress.

Mr. Lamassoure's remarks can be found here.

On July 12, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Eamon Gilmore, TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, to discuss the achievements of Ireland’s recently completed Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Key among them were breakthroughs in the creation of a European Banking Union, securing the EU’s 2014-2020 Multi-Annual Financial Framework, and corralling support for a negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Click here to read the Tánaiste's remarks.

On June 4, 2013, The European Institute welcomed Philippe G. Nell, Head of the Americas Division at the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, to discuss the challenges that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will pose for Switzerland and its strong economic ties with both the EU and the U.S.  Calling the TTIP “a huge development in global trade policy”, Mr. Nell outlined the main options for Switzerland: negotiating a free trade agreement with the U.S. after the conclusion of TTIP; negotiating TTIP membership after the fact; or lastly, seeking to eliminate specific TTIP disadvantages for Swiss access to the U.S. market through the Swiss-U.S. Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum or multilateral fora.

Click here to read Mr. Nell's presentation.

On May 30, 2013, The European Institute held a breakfast discussion with The Honorable Lucinda Creighton, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs, who outlined the progress of Ireland's European Union presidency and the future of the European Union. Ms. Creighton addressed the current economic situation in Europe, the status of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and how to make the European Union a more effective, legitimate, and prosperous alliance for the future.

Click here to read Minister Creighton's remarks.

On May 28, 2013, The European Institute welcomed Dr. Zsolt Becsey, Coordinator for Foreign Economic Affairs at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to a special meeting of the Transatlantic Roundtable on Trade & Investment to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the upcoming negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Expressing strong support for this historic initiative, Dr. Bescey emphasized that TTIP would not only benefit both sides of the Atlantic, but it could well act as a catalyst for the success of future multilateral trade agreements.