In cooperation with Europe 2020, the European Institute hosted a seminar entitled, "Paths to a Future Common EU Policy Toward North America." The discussion consisted of two morning sessions, in which Global Europe 2020 presented their findings on transatlantic divergence before an international audience. Frank Biancheri, Director, Europe 2020, indicated that shifting interests, the success of European integration and the emergence of the post Cold-War generation have led transatlantic relations to a critical impasse. He also suggested a number of reforms for improved transatlantic ties, many of which led to strong reactions and spirited debate from American panelists. Discussants included Tracy McKibben, Director, European and Eurasian Affairs, National Security Council; Shaun Donnelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State; and John Van Oudenaren, Chief, European Division, Library of Congress.

His Excellency Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza, Ambassador of Spain to the United States, despite earlier comments regarding the widening transatlantic rift, was optimistic about the future of U.S.-EU relations, adding that the two partners still share common interests and face similar challenges. He also emphasized the need for greater transnational cooperation, as global problems require global solutions. Stemming from these points, Harald Greib, Vice President, Europe 2020, identified several challenges of mutual importance, such as the Mid-East peace process and economic development within the third world, in which the U.S. and the EU could act as partners. However, Greib also raised concerns over the future of regional integration, specifically the lack of a clearly defined ’Neighborhood Policy,’ and the Union’s ongoing transformation towards a unified political entity. Additional remarks were made by Karen Volker, Deputy Director, Office of European and Regional Affairs, US Department of State; Philippe Coessens, Counselor, Head of Political Section, Delegation of the European Commission; and Dr. Daniel Hamilton, Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France to the United States, delivered keynote remarks on the shared challenges and opportunities facing the United States and the European Union. Although Ambassador Levitte acknowledges the widening rift between transatlantic partners, he maintains that the US-EU relationship will remain of critical importance to the international system, particularly within the Middle East and throughout the developing world.

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Seminar’s programme

8:30 a.m. Registration (Montpelier Room)

9:00 a.m.

. Welcome and Introduction: Jacqueline Grapin, President, the European Institute . Special Opening Remarks: Klaus-Peter Gottwald, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Session I: Vision for a Sustainable Transatlantic Relationship by 2020

. Introduction by Franck Biancheri, Director, Europe 2020 and Harold Greib, Vice President, Europe 2020

. James Steinberg, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Studies Program, The Brookings Institution

. John van Oudenaren, Head of European Division of Library of Congress

. Tracy McKibben, Director, European and Eurasian Affairs, National Security Council

10:45 a.m.

Session II: A New Common European Perspective on Global Affairs

. Introduction by Franck Biancheri, Director, Europe 2020 and Harald Greib, Vice President, Europe 2020

. His Excellency Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza, Ambassador of Spain to the United States

. Philippe Coessens, Counselor, Head of Political Section, Delegation of the European Commission

. Dr. Daniel Hamilton, Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

12:00 p.m.: Luncheon Keynote Remarks (John Adams)

. His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France to the United States

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List of participants

Matti Anttonen, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Finland

Michael Backfisch, Bureau Chief, Handelsblatt

Franck Biancheri, Director, Europe 2020

Steve Brady, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Sodexho, Inc.

Pierre Cardin, General Counsel, EADS North America

Claude Carrière, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission , Embassy of Canada

Philippe Coessens, Counselor, Head of Political, Delegation of the European Commission

Dr. Paula Wylie Connolly

Jack Cutts, Government Relations Assistant, Alcatel, Washington Office

Dr. Fabio Danin, Chief Executive Officer, Finmeccanica Inc.

Jonathan Davidson, Senior Advisor for the Political and Academic Section, Delegation of the European Commission

Shaun Donnelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, US Department of State

Her Excellency Claudia Fritsche, Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the United States, Embassy of Liechtenstein

Daniela Gitman, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Romania

John Glenn, Director of Foreign Policy, German Marshall Fund of the United States

Klaus-Peter Gottwald, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Jacqueline Grapin, President, The European Institute

Harald Greib, Vice President, Europe 2020

His Excellency Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the United States, Embassy of the Republic of Poland

Charles Hamilton, Trade Advisor, Airbus North America Holdings, Inc.

Dr. Daniel S. Hamilton, Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

Dr. Ralf Horlemann, Political Counselor , Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Vratislav Janda, Minister-Counselor, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic

Frank J. Kelly, Managing Director and Head of Government Affairs - Americas, Deutsche Bank

Richard Kirkland President, Vice President, International Programs, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Michael Kirst, Director, International and Government Affairs Executive, Westinghouse Electric Company

Philippe Lalliot, Counselor, European Affairs, Embassy of France

Francine Lamoriello, Senior International Business and Strategy, Advisor, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz

His Excellency Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France to the United States, Embassy of France

His Excellency John Lowell, Ambassador of Malta to the United States, Embassy of Malta

Grier D. Martin, Program Coordinator, The European Institute

James G. McGann, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute

Tracy McKibben, Director, European and Eurasian Affairs, National Security Council

Claudia Meulenberg, Associate Program Officer, United Nations Foundation

Christian Nadal, President, Electricité de France International North America, Inc.

Julienne Nelson, Executive Director, The European Institute

Andreas Nicolaides, Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus

The Honorable William A. Nitze,Chairman, Equinox Energy Solutions, Inc.

Maria Papathanassiou,Senior Vice President, The European Institute

William E. Primosch, Director, International Business Policy International & Economic Affairs, National Association of Manufacturers

Nicholas Reed, Coordinator, Tiesweb Transatlantic Marathon

Rune Resaland, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, Royal Norwegian Embassy

Laura Rheintgen, Director of Member Relations, The European Institute

Sue Saarnio, Deputy Director, Office for European Union and Regional Affairs, US Department of State

Ramon Santos, Political Counselor, Embassy of Spain

Graham Smart, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, North America, Thales North America, Inc.

Helmut Sonnenfeldt, Guest Scholar, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution

William R. Sweeney, Jr., Vice President, Global Government Affairs, EDS Corporation

Viktor Szederkényi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Hungary

Ahmed Toumi, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, International Telecommunications Satellite Organization

Angel Ubide, Director of Global Economics, Tudor Investment Corporation

His Excellency Boudewijn J. van Eenennaam, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States, Royal Netherlands Embassy

Dr. John Van Oudenaren, Chief, European Division, Library of Congress

Karen Volker, Deputy Director, Agency Research Projects, US Department of State

Nick Welch, Manager, International Relations, Shell Oil Company

Jeffrey Werner, Manager, International Government Affairs, DaimlerChrysler

His Excellency Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza, Ambassador of Spain to the United States, Embassy of Spain

Diane Zeleny, Outreach Director, European Bureau, US Department of State

Stella Zervoudaki, Minister-Counselor, Press and Public Affairs, Delegation of the European Commission