Roundtables

TTIP: Mars & Venus Don't Matter in International Trade

On June 19, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Daniel Caspary, International Trade Spokesman for the EPP Group in the European Parliament and Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, to discuss the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and assess the prospects for ultimate ratification by the European Parliament. A strong proponent of the historic initiative, Mr. Caspary called for a truly comprehensive agreement, a tight negotiation time line so as to finalize the agreement by the end of 2014, and urged business leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to help build popular support. Michael Smart, Vice President at Rock Creek Global Advisors moderated the lively discussion.

 

The Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership: A New Challenge for Switzerland

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.

 

A Hungarian Perspective on TTIP

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.

 

The Future of European Prosperity: Reform, Partnership & Cooperation

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.

 

Spurring Economic Growth: Prospects & Challenges for E-Payments

On May 14, 2013, The European Institute hosted a seminar in Brussels on the opportunities and challenges for e-payments in the evolving global economy.  Speakers included: The Honorable Sampo Terho, Member, Committee on Economic & Monetary Affairs (ECON) & Rapporteur for the ECON Committee’s E-Payments Report, European Parliament; Erik Nooteboom, Head of Unit, Retail Financial Services & Consumer Policy, DG Internal Market, European Commission; Francisco Tur, Advisor, European Central Bank; Ceu Pereira, Senior Payment Systems Expert, Payment Systems Development Group, World Bank; Mikael Conny Svensson, Senior Business Leader, Government Affairs and Public Policy, MasterCard Europe; and Antonio Longo, President, Italian Citizens’ Rights Movement.

 
  • Organized Labor in U.S. and Germany—Will it Survive?

    By Michael Mosettig

    To the union leaders who occupy offices inside, the big white building just north of Lafayette Square in Washington is known as The House of Labor. Encased on marble, with a view of the White House, it exudes the power that once belonged to leaders of American labor unions to help pick and elect Democratic Party presidents and push their agendas through Congress.

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UMD Jean Monnet Research Project

Infrastructure Planning and Financing: Lessons from Europe and the United States

The University of Maryland has received a Jean Monnet grant from the EU to conduct a series of policy exchanges between Europe and the US on filling infrastructure needs and the utility of public/private partnerships as the financing mechanism. If interested in participating in or receiving more information about these exchanges, please contact Rye McKenzie (rmckenzi@umd.edu).

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New from the Bertelsmann Foundation

The Bertelsmann Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit think tank in Washington, DC with a transatlantic perspective on global challenges.

"Brussels & Berlin | October 2020e" by Nathan Crist

"Trade War 2020" by Emily Hruban

 

Summer Course