European Institute

This special event recognized The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for his critical role in building a substantive partnership between the United States and the European Union to address the common threat of global terrorism. His Excellency Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, newly arrived Ambassador of Spain presented the Institute’s 2008 Transatlantic Leadership Award, which alternately honors an American and a European leader.

Hosted by H.E. Alexandros Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the urgent need for closer collaboration between Europe and the US, as they face the challenges of climate change and energy security, in addition to terrorism. Ambassador Mallias reported on the recent fires in Greece and the sense of solidarity they created within the EU. H.E. Joao de Vallera, Ambassador of Portugal to the US reviewed the priorities of the Portuguese EU Presidency. Sherri Goodman, General Counsel, CNA Corporation and Executive Director, Military Advisory Board of CNA Corporation presented CAN’s seminal report on National Security and the Threat of Climate Change. The Hon. Kurt Volker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs offered his assessment of current U.S.-Europe relations. He noted the need for increased transatlantic cooperation and discussed the ultimate resolution of Kosovo’s final status, as well as U.S- EU cooperation on the issues of Climate Change and the conflict in Afghanistan.

Hosted by H.E. Urs Ziswiler, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the economic, security and environmental agenda for European-American relations in view of the current financial crisis, upcoming presidential and congressional elections in the U.S., the political situation in the European Union, and recent developments in the Caucasus. Luc Véron, Minister-Counselor and Head of the Political and Development Section of the Delegation of the European Commission, gave an overview of the European Commission’s priorities as the EU faces the consequences of the Irish “no” to the Lisbon Treaty, the end of the Barroso Commission’s term and upcoming European parliamentary elections. William Lucas, Director of European Union and Regional Affairs for the US State Department, discussed recent events in the Caucuses and their effects on US-EU relations, as well as the need for transatlantic cooperation to deal with a potential resurgence of Russian power. Christian Stenberg, First Secretary of the Economic Section of the Royal Danish Embassy, presented the Nordic perspective of the challenges created by climate change. Massimo Calabresi, White House Correspondent for Time Magazine offered an analysis of the 2009 Presidential and Congressional elections and their impact on transatlantic relations.