What is the state of the EU-US relationship? How has the Global Financial Crisis affected that relationship? What is the European perspective?

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences and the Dickey Center for International Understanding are proud to host a lunch discussion with the Head of the Political Department at the Royal Dutch Embassy in Washington DC, Marcel de Vink. 

Due to extensive cooperation on a wide range of issues, the relationship between the United States and Europe is often called the transatlantic partnership. In many areas, the two sides sharecommon values and overlapping interests, and have grown increasingly interdependent in terms of security and prosperity.  But given the recent financial and economic turmoil, the EU-US relationship appears to waning. Some are asking whether the US and Europe will be able to maintain their strong partnership, or whether, as President Obama stated, the US is turning away from Europe and focusing on the Pacific. 

 And if so, what would that mean for Europe and can the US really afford to do so?   Marcel de Vink, Head of the Political Department at the Netherlands Embassy will discuss these critical issues, as well as the important role that the Netherlands - as long standing ally, third largest foreign investor in the US, and one of the few triple A-rated financial market - plays both within the EU, as well as with the US.  Mr. de Vink will argue that the Dutch trans-Atlantic relationship is one that is not only worthy of preserving, but of strengthening and why it is that the NL is so important to the United States.  Mr.de Vink will also discuss, in that context, his role as diplomat and what it means to work in a global environment. 

When: January 6 at 12:00 pm.

Where: The Class of 1930 Room, Rockefeller Center

!!!Lunch will be provided!!!