European Institute

Applications for small unmanned vehicle systems are multiplying and their contribution to earth surveillance and the treatment of emergency situations is increasing in parallel to their commercial, homeland security and military applications. This conference addressed the growing need for ensuring the security of their traffic and making sure that this development is environmentally safe. Speakers included Peter van Blyenburgh, President of UVS International; Gerald F. “Fred” Pease, Jr., Executive Director for the Department of Defense Policy Board on Federal Aviation; Holger Mattiesen, Senior Specialist in Air Traffic Management Procedures and the Focal Point for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at EUROCONTROL; Robert “Rori” Marston, Director of Policy and Strategic Development for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s UAS Program; and Dana Schulze, Chief of the Aviation Engineering Division at the National Transportation Safety Board. Participants agreed that there needs to be an increase in transatlantic coordination regarding UAVs to ensure safety and regulation.

Christian Leffler, Head of Cabinet for Margot Wallström, European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communications Strategy, discussed the progress made on the EU Reform Treaty at the recent summit in Lisbon and assessed the importance of the treaty in the context of European integration. Changes affected by the treaty would include a new voting procedure aimed at ensuring transparency, and an increase in the length of the presidency term from six months to two and one half years. He was optimistic that once the treaty is signed in Lisbon in December, it will be ratified by June 2009. The discussion was hosted by Blank Rome Government Relations LLC.

Following on the meeting with Mr. Leffler, a special discussion was convened with The Hon. Noëlle Lenoir, former French Minister of European Affairs, now responsible for coordinating the European law practice of the American firm Debevoise & Plimpton in Paris. Mrs. Lenoir reviewed the changes being considered in the new European Treaty and their implications for diplomats, companies and citizens who deal with the European institutions. Benno van der Laan, Senior Vice President of Cabinet Stewart Inc. commented on lobbying in Brussels and the evolution of American lobbying activities with the European institutions.

A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy that included The Hon. Catherine Trautmann (MEP–France), Vice-Chair and The Hon. Giles Chichester, Member of the Committee, along with The Hon. Jonathan Evans (MEP-UK), Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with the U.S. discussed the effectiveness of the European ETS as well as transatlantic cooperation on energy and climate change issues. Participants included  James Slutz, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy and Angelos Pangratis, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission. There was a consensus that although there are problems with the current ETS, it does work and it is a positive initiative toward developing new technologies.