The Roundtable on Financial and Economic Affairs will focus on financial reforms under consideration in both Europe and the United States in wake of the global financial crisis and the implications within Europe, as well as on a concerted and effective transatlantic approach. The program will also consider the divergent responses to the economic crisis and the ramifications within the European Union and for the United States, the future of the euro-zone, and the relationship between the dollar and the euro. Issues related to CFIUS and protecting the integrity of the electronic banking systems will also be included in this program.

Recent Meetings:

On April 27, 2011, Jonathan Faull, Director General for Internal Market at the European Commission, Commissioner Michel Barnier’s principal deputy, discussed the ongoing development and implementation of the EU’s ambitious financial governance reforms, the challenges that lay ahead for renewed efforts to strengthen the Single Market and assessed the prospects for greater European-American cooperation in restoring financial and economic health to both sides of the Atlantic. Richard Weiner, Partner at Sidley Austin LLP moderated the discussion.

On April 11, 2011, Jean-François Boittin, Minister Counselor for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Embassy of France addressed the main challenges for the French Presidency of the G8 and G20. In a wide-ranging talk, Mr. Boittin singled out efforts to further proposed reforms of the international monetary system and financial governance, enhance efforts to combat commodity price volatility, and broaden the base for global development funds to include emerging economies and a mix of both public and private capital.

On October 7, 2010, Dr. Franc Križanic, Minister of Finance for the Republic of Slovenia offered his perspective on the implications of the economic crisis for his country as well as for the European Union. The first former eastern bloc country to adopt the euro in 2007, Slovenia has been hard hit by the current economic downturn. Following a decade of robust growth, Slovenia’s export driven economy contracted by 7.8 % in 2009 -- the largest drop in the euro area and the first recession since independence. But a combination of bold stimulus measures and financial sector support appears to have stemmed the downturn and GDP is expected to show a modest gain of .6% by year’s end. Minister Križanic asserted that sustainable economic growth will depend largely on increased investment in the development of new technologies. With key economic indicators showing that both Slovenia and Europe are already beginning to emerge from the crises, he concluded that prospects for even further recovery, growth and prosperity are good, as long as a focused and consolidated effort to achieve key goals remains intact.

Click here to view Minister Križanic's presentation.

On September 30, 2010, The European Institute held its Annual Meeting of the Members and Board of Advisors at the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.  Discussions focused on U.S. and European efforts to enact comprehensive financial regulatory measures, strengthen economic governance and spur sustainable economic growth. Moderated by Timothy Keeler, Counsel at Mayer Brown LLP, the expert panel included Mark Sobel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Finance at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; Antonio de Lecea, Minister - Principal Advisor for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Delegation of the European Union; Matthias Sonn, Minister of Economics and Science at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Jeffrey Skeer, International Relations Specialist in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.

The panel was followed by a dinner and a lively discussion with David Mark, Senior Editor at Politico and Politico.com, about the U.S. Mid-Term Elections and their Potential Implications.

On his maiden visit to the United States in his current capacity, The Honorable Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services discussed ongoing efforts in both Europe and the United States to restructure financial services:  measures made all the more contentious in light of the sovereign debt crisis affecting member states of the European Union and the Eurogroup.  Mark Sobel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Monetary and Financial Policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; James Chanos, Chairman of the Coalition of Private Investment Companies; Patrick Herman, Minister-Counselor for Economics at the Embassy of Belgium; and Julie Chon, Senior Advisor to Chairman Christopher Dodd on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee then participated in a panel discussion regarding the U.S., EU and private sector perspectives on the new proposed financial regulations.  Frank Kelly, Managing Director and Head of Government Affairs – Americas at Deutsche Bank and The Honorable Clay Lowery, Vice President of International Government Affairs at Cisco served as moderators for the discussion.

This meeting was supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through funds of the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

 Click here for the full text of Commissioner Barnier's keynote address, "Building a New Financial Framework Together."