EU Treaty of Rome 50^th Anniversary
 

EUROPEAN WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

Full US Calendar; By US State

• The Official Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome
  On 25 March 2007 the 27 Member States of the European Union celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome. Since Germany currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany hosted the official celebratory event to honor this occasion at his Residence.
  
  The American Consortium on EU Studies (ACES) EU Center of Excellence,
  Washington, DC, invited Capital area university students to present their vision for the future of the EU and its relation with the US to the Ambassador John Bruton of the Delegation of the European Commission to the US, and to ambassadors of EU Member States and other invited guests. The celebration offered the opportunity for tomorrow's potential leaders to interact directly with the representatives of today's EU leaders.

• Events Linked to the 50th Anniversary of the Signature of the Treaty of Rome:
  
  Concert at the UN
  On 28 March 2007, the renowned Norddeutsche Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra from Hamburg performed Beethoven’s third symphony (“Eroica”) at a unique gala concert in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations. The concert was jointly sponsored by the European Commission Delegation to the United Nations and the German presidency of the EU to commemorate the EU’s role in the world.
  
  SAIS (Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies) Conference: "The Quiet Revolution: How Transatlantic Networks Are Harvesting Best Practices and Reshaping Domestic Policies in the United States and Europe"
  This one-day conference on March 29 organized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Transatlantic Relations and the Koerber Foundation highlighted specific areas of public policy where civic leaders drew upon best practice abroad to help address problems at home; this was an example of the "transatlantic learning community" making a real difference in people's lives. Each session began with a presentation describing how European-American exchanges of "best practice" have led to domestic policy change and was followed by specific "case studies."
  
  Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) conference: "The EU at 50: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going?”
  This all-day conference organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and co-sponsored by the Swedish Embassy and the Heinrich Böll Foundation was held at the House of Sweden in Washington, DC, on March 26. It examined how far the EU has fulfilled the aspirations of its Founding Fathers in its first half century, and where it is likely to go from here – notably with respect to its world role, its relations with the US, further enlargement and the search for deeper or new forms of European integration. Speakers included prominent European and US policy-makers and officials, and Ambassadors from EU Member States.
  
  Student and Young Professional Gala
  Arising from an initiative by international studies graduate students from Washington's five main universities, this gala event hosted by the German Embassy heralded the achievements of the European Union to date. Over 250 graduate students and young professionals with a background in global affairs and a deep interest in the EU, its aims and objectives participated.
  
  Breakfast with Interns, Hosted by Ambassador John Bruton
  Organized as a networking event for Washington, DC's intern community, this breakfast and address by Ambassador Bruton commemorated the 50th Anniversary and familiarized interns in political organizations, government departments and Embassies with the role the Delegation of the European Commission the United States.
  
  Lecture Series with Anna Diamantopoulou and Dr. Yannos Papantoniou
  The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA) Inc. organized a series of lectures at American universities between March 19 – 27 for former European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and former Greek Minister of National Defense and of National Economy, Dr. Yannos Papantoniou. Participating universities were Queens College, Columbia University, MIT, and Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Papantoniou also lectured at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
  
  Concert at the Italian Embassy
  The Italian Cultural Institute and the Embassy of Spain presented a concert by the renowned classical guitarist Giuliano Belotti in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The concert was held at the Italian Embassy in Washington and Maestro Belotti performed music by Ferran Sor, Isaac Albeniz, Johann Sebastian Bach and Roland Dyens.
  
  Roundtable Discussion with Consuls General in Boston: "The European Union: Unity in Diversity"
  As part of the series Getting to know the European Union: Member States in Focus, a roundtable discussion to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome was organized for March 28 by the Institute for Human Sciences at Boston University in cooperation with the American Council on Germany and supported by the Delegation of the European Commission to the US participants included the Consuls Generals of Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Greece, France, Ireland and Portugal and the moderator was the Senior Editorial Page Editor at The Boston Globe, Alan Berger.
  
  Conference: "Global Innovations in the Third Sector"
  The EU Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan and the William Davidson Institute organized a conference on March 22-23 which focused on business innovations in the non-profit sector in the US and in EU Accession and new member countries. Non-profit organizations in the US and Eastern Europe are experiencing growing competition for increasingly limited donor funds, which has encouraged them to adopt innovative strategies to increase sustainability and independence.
  
  Conference: "Assessing the New EU: Enlargement, Governance, and Institutions"
  This two-day conference on March 30-31 organized by the EU Center of Excellence at Florida International University included a roundtable discussion with Consuls General from six EU Member States and a keynote address by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission, Angelos Pangratis.
  
  Conference: "The EU: A Model for the US?"
  Students at American University's Washington College of Law, Washington, DC, organized a one-day conference on March 28 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Ambassador John Bruton of the Delegation of the European Commission and Ambassador Klaus Scharioth of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany participated, and there were two panel discussions with international scholars.
  
  Transatlantic Roundtable on Energy and Environment
  As its contribution to European Week, the European Institute is organizing a special meeting on March 26 to discuss the EU's recently-released Energy Policy for Europe and to explore the energy relationship with rapidly-developing countries like China, Russia, and India. Participants will include US government officials, European diplomats, and industry experts and representatives from the US and Europe.

• Deputy Chiefs of Mission from European Union Member State Embassies to Visit Academic Institutions in the Greater DC area to celebrate 50 years of European Integration
  This year the European Union celebrates 50 Years of Peace, Prosperity and Partnership, which began with the signing of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 1957.
  
  The Delegation of the European Commission to the United States is coordinating an educational outreach program for students to promote a better understanding of the European Union and to highlight the achievements of half a century of European-American cooperation. Deputy Chiefs of Mission (DCMs) from 12 EU Member State Embassies will visit academic institutions in the Washington, DC, area from March 18 to 31.

March 19, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Kurfurst, will visit the Saints Peter and Paul High School, Easton, MD.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Denmark, Soren Jensen; the First Counselor at the French Embassy, Laurent Delahousse; the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Luxembourg, Phil Schmit; and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Slovenia, Miriam Mozgan, will visit West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.

March 20, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Kurfurst; the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Denmark, Soren Jensen; the First Counselor at the French Embassy, Laurent Delahousse; the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Luxembourg, Phil Schmit; and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Slovenia, Miriam Mozgan, will visit the European Center of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Richard Van Rijssen, will visit Montgomery College, Maryland.

March 21, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden, Caroline Vicini, will visit the Washington Latin School, Washington, DC.

March 22, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Estonia, Eva-Maria Liimets, and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Finland, Anne Lammila, will visit the Institute for European, Russian & Eurasian Studies at the Eliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington, DC.

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Bulgaria, Hristo Gudjev, will visit the Center for Teaching Excellence at American University, Washington, DC.

March 23, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Cyprus, Yannis Michaelides, will visit the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, DC.

March 25, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Kurfurst, will visit the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.

March 26, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Romania, Dorian Mihai, will visit Oakcrest High School, McLean, VA.

March 27, 2007

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Cyprus, Yannis Michaelides, will visit Luke Moore and Woodrow Wilson High Schools, Washington, DC.

• EU Ambassadors to the US will teach classes on the EU in US schools on Europe Day, May 9, 2007. See 2006 Activities.

  Ambassador John Bruton Teaches a Class on the EU at Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, DC, Europe Day, 2006