European Institute

On July 16, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Peter Liese, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for inclusion of aviation in the ETS, The Honorable Julie Oettinger, Assistant Administrator for Policy at the Federal Aviation Administration, and John Schmitz, Partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP, to discuss the future of global regulation of aviation emissions. The panelists discussed the contested extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to the aviation sector by the European Union and the prospects for reaching agreement on a global framework at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s plenary meeting this September. The discussion was moderated by Annie Petsonk, International Counsel at Environmental Defense Fund.

On July 9, 2013, The European Institute welcomed a leadership delegation from the European People’s Party (EPP Group) in the European Parliament, including The Honorable Corien Wortmann-Kool, Vice President for Economic, Financial and Monetary Affairs; The Honorable Marian-Jean Marinescu, Vice President for Budget, Budget Control and Structural Affairs; The Honorable Jozsef Szajer, Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs, and The Honorable Manfred Weber, Vice President for Homeland Security, to discuss the future of European-American relations.

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 24, 2013, The European Institute welcomed His Excellency Petr Gandalovic, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States, to a discussion on the challenges of moving towards a low-carbon economy at a time of economic austerity. The Ambassador gave prepared remarks on behalf of the Minister of Environment, The Honorable Tomas Chalupa, and offered his country’s perspective on mitigating the impact of climate change, while furthering efforts to diversify energy resources and build a sustainable economic recovery. The Honorable Tomas Tesar, Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, also participated in the panel discussion.