National Conferences
An International Conference: “The European Union and the United States: Partners for Peace or Global Competitors?”
April 2-3, 2007
“The European Union and the United States: Partners for Peace or Global Competitors?” featured addresses by Jean-David Levitte, French Ambassador to the U.S., and Alexander Stubb, a Furman alumnus and member of the European Parliament of Finland. Wlodzimirez Cimoszewicz, former Prime Minister of Poland, who was at Furman as the Riley Institute’s Head-of-Government in Residence, participated in one of the panel discussions. For more information on the Prime Minister, click here.
This two-day conference, held April 2-3, 2007, was hosted by the Riley Institute at Furman, in partnership with Michelin North America Inc., the Office of Academic Affairs and Dean, and the Department of Political Science and took an in-depth look at the European Union and its relationship with the United States.
Ambassador Levitte, the French Ambassador to the United States, delivered the keynote address, “EU-US Relations in a Transformed World,” on Monday, April 2 at 8 p.m. in Younts Conference Center located on Furman’s campus. The common market of the EU commands a gross domestic product of over 13 trillion US dollars. What is happening to the relationship of the US and the EU in this new international arena? Is the US losing out to Europe in an economic competition? Ambassdor Levitte addressed these important issues and more.
Levitte, one of the most powerful political figures in France, has had a distinguished career in the French Foreign Service. During his career, he has been on the staff of French President Valery Giscard d’ Estaing (1975-1981), Counselor for France to the United Nations, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the African Bureau, Assistant Secretary for Asian Affairs, Undersecretary for Cultural and Scientific Cooperation, and Senior Diplomatic Advisor to President Jacques Chirac.
Stubb, one of the European Union’s best known parliamentarians who received the highest number of votes of any parliamentarian in the 2004 EU elections, gave the closing address on Tuesday, April 3 at 8 p.m. in the Younts Conference Center. He spoke on “The State of the European Union.”
The conference also featured two panel discussions. “The Religious Factor in EU-US Relations” took place Monday, April 2 at 3 p.m. in the University Center’s Watkins Room. The second panel discussion titled “How United Are the States of Europe? Charting Europe’s Course in the 21st Century” was held on Tuesday, April 3 at 3 p.m. at Younts Conference Center.
For a complete list of speakers and their biographies, and the schedule of events, click here.
Press Coverage
FUnet article; The Greenville News and Furman’s press release