On September 12, 2013, The European Institute held a breakfast discussion with Maria Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation, DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission. Newly appointed to her position, Ms. Russo discussed the Horizon 2020 program and emphasized the need for the European Union and the United States to work together on shared research and innovation challenges. The Honorable Bart Gordon, Partner at K&L Gates LLP moderated the discussion.

Ms. Russo's remarks can be found here.

On July 18, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Alain Lamassoure, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets and lead negotiator on the European Union’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework (2014-2020) to discuss the prospects and challenges facing the European Union. In a masterful presentation, Mr. Lamassoure outlined why the next 18 months will be decisive in determining the future of the European Union. This meeting was held in cooperation with the European Parliament Liaison Office with the U.S. Congress.

Mr. Lamassoure's remarks can be found here.

On July 16, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Peter Liese, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for inclusion of aviation in the ETS, The Honorable Julie Oettinger, Assistant Administrator for Policy at the Federal Aviation Administration, and John Schmitz, Partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP, to discuss the future of global regulation of aviation emissions. The panelists discussed the contested extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to the aviation sector by the European Union and the prospects for reaching agreement on a global framework at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s plenary meeting this September. The discussion was moderated by Annie Petsonk, International Counsel at Environmental Defense Fund.

On July 12, 2013, The European Institute welcomed The Honorable Eamon Gilmore, TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, to discuss the achievements of Ireland’s recently completed Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Key among them were breakthroughs in the creation of a European Banking Union, securing the EU’s 2014-2020 Multi-Annual Financial Framework, and corralling support for a negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Click here to read the Tánaiste's remarks.

On July 9, 2013, The European Institute welcomed a leadership delegation from the European People’s Party (EPP Group) in the European Parliament, including The Honorable Corien Wortmann-Kool, Vice President for Economic, Financial and Monetary Affairs; The Honorable Marian-Jean Marinescu, Vice President for Budget, Budget Control and Structural Affairs; The Honorable Jozsef Szajer, Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs, and The Honorable Manfred Weber, Vice President for Homeland Security, to discuss the future of European-American relations.