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Created on 10 April 2008

Antonio De Lecea, Director for International Economic and Financial Affairs at the European Commission, offered his assessment of the European Commission’s proposed common approach to sovereign wealth funds, and Nova Daly, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, examined the role of CFIUS in regulating the flow of sovereign wealth funds into the United States. The Hon. Patrick Mulloy, Member, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission expressed his concern about sovereign wealth funds and their influence on the U.S. government and economy. Klaus Stein, IMF Executive Director for Germany; Jarle Bergo, Alternate IMF Director for the Nordic/Baltic States; and François Teissonnière, Managing Director, Telecoms, Rothschild Inc. presented perspectives from Germany, Norway, and the private sector on the issue. Thomas J. Karol, President and COO of the newly formed Sovereign Investment Council emphasized the positive aspects of these funds and advised against excessive regulation that would lead to perceptions of protectionism. The discussion was moderated by James Mendenhall, Partner, at Sidley Austin LLP.

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Created on 18 October 2007

H.E. Pierre Vimont, newly appointed Ambassador of France to the United States, discussed President Nicolas Sarkozy’s goals for the EU, as France assumes the presidency of the European Council in the latter part of 2008. The European Union should focus on four points: economic growth; internal security and the growing concerns about immigration; environmental protection and climate change; external relations and the EU’s role in the international community. Ambassador Vimont stressed that the EU needs to “put its house in order” and decide on the new constitution, a common defense policy, and enlargement. France has proposed the creation of a committee of “wisemen” to address these difficult issues.

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Created on 27 September 2007

The Honorable Lucas Papademos, Vice-President of the European Central Bank addressed the role of the Central Bank in dealing with the current turmoil in global financial markets, as well as the prospects for the European economy. This dinner discussion was hosted in New York City in cooperation with BlackRock, Inc.

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Created on 17 July 2007

The Hon. Pervenche Berès, Chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), accompanied by a delegation of Committee members, offered her perspective on the need for greater transatlantic cooperation in response to the consolidation of financial markets and stock exchanges. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Commission on the Regulation of U.S. Capital Markets in the 21st Century, presented the Commission’s Report and Recommendations on U.S. competitiveness.