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.
Event Video:
For more photos, please see the event’s Flickr-Album!