News Releases

Washington, DC, April 8-9, 2008

EU Representatives in Pittsburgh to Hand Over Library Collection and Further Strengthen EU-Pennsylvania Ties

Ambassador John Bruton, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, and Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States, visit Pittsburgh April 8-9, 2008, to mark the official handover of the Delegation's library collection to the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library. During their visit, Ambassador Bruton and Ambassador Žbogar, who represents the rotating EU Presidency, also discuss EU-US political and trade relations with students and faculty at Duquesne University (Center for International Regulatory Assistance) and visit the South Side High School.

The European Commission's Washington Delegation recently donated its entire library of European Union reference materials to the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library. The collection constitutes the most extensive set of public European Community/European Union documents and publications in North America. "The collection will provide a wealth of information for the research conducted at the European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh," said Ambassador Bruton.

Ambassador Bruton and Ambassador Žbogar will also meet with business leaders to highlight Pennsylvania's strong trade and investment ties with the European Union. The EU is by far the biggest investor in the United States. Europe's investment in the US totaled a record $1.3 trillion in 2006. No other region of the world invests as much in the US as Europe. Two out of every three dollars that are invested in the United States by countries outside the US are invested by countries of the European Union.

"These strong economic ties are reflected in the robust economic relationship that we have with the state of Pennsylvania," said Ambassador Žbogar. "The EU is the number one foreign investor in Pennsylvania."

Of the $30.2 billion foreign direct investment in Pennsylvania in 2004, 72 percent came from Europe supporting 182,300 jobs in 2005. The EU is also Pennsylvania's second largest export market, behind Canada. In 2006, Pennsylvania exported almost $6.2 billion worth of goods and services to the EU, ranging from chemicals to transportation equipment. Pennsylvania's exports to the EU in 2006 totaled more than twice its exports to China and Japan combined.

"At a time when America’s attention is increasingly turning toward Asia, it is important to keep in mind that the $4 trillion economic relationship between the European Union and the United States is the largest, most profitable, most integrated and longest-lasting in history," said Ambassador Bruton. "It is also the most important driver of global economic growth, trade and prosperity – and we see that right here in Pennsylvania."

American companies invest far more in EU countries than they do anywhere else accounting for almost as much profit as American corporations earned from all of their direct investments in the rest of the world combined. It is estimated that the transatlantic economy employs 14 million workers on both sides of the Atlantic. "These figures show that we have a huge stake in one another's success," emphasized Ambassador Žbogar.

Background

Ambassador Bruton is a former Irish Prime Minister, who helped transform the Irish economy into the "Celtic Tiger," one of the fastest growing economies in the world. He currently heads the Delegation of the European Commission in Washington, which represents the EC in its dealings with the US government for all matters within EU competence or purview. The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union.

Ambassador Žbogar is former Deputy Foreign Minister of Slovenia for Multilateral Affairs and a career diplomat. Before being appointed Ambassador of Slovenia to the United States, he served in Zagreb, Beijing and New York. Being Ambassador of Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating Presidency of the EU, Samuel Žbogar represents the EU Council in its relations with the US government. The EU Council is a body consisting of all EU Member States. It functions as a legislative branch of the European Union, a community of 27 democracies joined together, dedicated to the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity.

For further information, to attend any of the Ambassador's public events or to schedule an interview, please contact Kevin Gilna at (202) 441-3401.

Further Contact Information:
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766