When: October 31, 2018 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Where: Embassy of Austria, 3524 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Image: EEAS
With all its imperfections yet unprecedented economic success, the European Union stands out as the most successful peace project in the world, ever since allowing the United States and Europe to unite in their quest for freedom, peace, and prosperity.
However, in the context of current challenges to the established world order, multilateralism, the transatlantic relationship and the European Union appear to be under assault both in the U.S. and in Europe.
Panelists will draw on their first-hand experience to examine and assess the present state of transatlantic relations and the European Union, and will discuss future prospects against the background of the upcoming U.S. midterms, the European Parliament elections in May 2019 and a new European Commission, as well as specific challenges like migration, trade disputes, the final phase of the Brexit negotiations, and the rise of populist and anti-establishment political movements on both sides of the Atlantic.
Panelists:
Othmar Karas,
Head of Delegation of the Austrian People’s Party and former Vice-President of the European Parliament
Robert Walker (R-PA 16),
Former House Republican Chief Deputy Whip
David O’Sullivan,
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States of America
Stuart E. Eizenstat,
Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union
Moderator: Daniel S. Hamilton, Austrian Marshall Plan Professor at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
The deliberations will be followed by a reception and a special exhibition “Vienna Design – Austrian Porcelain and Jewelry Objects” presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum Washington.
From Left: MEP Othmar Karas, Ambassador David O’Sullivan, Professor Daniel S. Hamilton, Rep. Robert Walker, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat.
Challenges to the world order like the current row over international agreements, the policies towards Iran and Russia, trade tensions, or migration - only a few examples of the issues the EU and the U.S. are currently facing. But do they indicate a transatlantic disconnect? On October 31, 2018, the Embassy of Austria hosted a discussion titled “The State of Transatlantic Relations and the European Union – Past, Present and Future.”
The high level panel was composed of Othmar Karas (Head of delegation of the Austrian People’s Party and former Vice-President of the European Parliament), Robert Walker (former House Republican Chief Deputy Whip), David O’Sullivan (Ambassador of the European Union to the U.S.) as well as Stuart E. Eizenstat (former US Ambassador to the European Union). Austrian Marshall Plan Professor Daniel S. Hamilton led through the discussion.
The atrium of the Embassy was packed as panelists drew on their first-hand experience to examine transatlantic relations in an animated debate. After a lively discussion followed by a brief Q&A session, audience members extensively engaged with the panelists over Austrian food and wine.
On the sidelines of the event, the audience enjoyed the opening of a special exhibition “Vienna Design – Austrian Porcelain and Jewelry Objects” presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum Washington.
The panel discussion was part of the Austrian Lecture Series, a speaker and discussion series jointly organized by the Embassy of Austria in the United States, Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation.
For more photos, please see the event’s Flickr-Album!
Event Video
