DIPLOMACY

The CEUCE, as an extension of the Delegation of the European Commission in Washington, DC, represents a diplomatic effort to promote the vitality and efficacy of the transatlantic relationship. To this end, CEUCE maintains an active relationship with diplomats, policy makers and business professionals residing in Colorado. Since 2008, CEUCE has earned a reputation in the local community for hosting international diplomats and delegations.

Upcoming

Ambassador Klaus Scharioth
November 12^th, 2010
Boulder, Colorado

Ambassador Klaus Scharioth of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States of America will be delivering a public lecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder on November 12^th. Join us in the Old Main Chapel from 10:00am to 11:30am for this enlightening lecture and a light catered reception afterward.

Mr. Scharioth will also be meeting with the governor of Colorado, Denver Mayor and much of the CU Faculty and Administration. The CEUCE looks forward to the Ambassador's visit and a great turnout to Mr. Scharioth's lecture.

Past

Ambassador Jan Matthysen
May 2010
Boulder, Colorado

In May of 2010 His Excellency Ambassador Jan Matthysen visited Boulder, Colorado. He met with many at the University of Colorado and at the CEUCE. The Ambassador focused on the biosciences in Colorado and environmental research and development initiatives and green start-up companies in the region. Mr. Matthysen also spoke as the keynote speaker at the Transatlantic Affairs Speaker Series at the University of Denver on "The Financial Crisis and Regulatory Cooperation between the EU and the US".

Ambassador Angelos Pangratis
May 2010
Boulder, Colorado

In May of 2010 Charge D'Affaires Angelos Pangratis visited Boulder, Colorado. He met with many at the University of Colorado and at the CEUCE, including Boulder's Mayor, Susan Osborne. Mr. Pangratis also spoke with the Highland City Club on "Restoring Stability to the Global Economy" which was followed by a question and answer session.

Political and Economic Perspectives on the Transatlantic Relationship
Special Guests: Consul General of Belgium to Los Angeles, Geert Criel, and Consul General of the Netherlands to San Francisco, Bart Van Bolhuis
February 2010
Boulder Chamber

In partnership with the Honorary Consul of Belgium to Colorado, Frank Schuchat; the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands to Colorado, Max Peeters; the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade; the World Trade Center of Denver; and the Boulder Chamber, the CEUCE hosted the Consul General of Belgium and the Consul General of the Netherlands to Denver for a public lecture, “Political and Economic Perspectives on the Transatlantic Relationship.” During the Consul Generals two day visit to Colorado, CEUCE organized meetings for the Consul Generals with government, business and academic leaders in Colorado.

Silesia, Poland-Colorado Trade Mission
October 2009
Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder and broader Front Range of Colorado

In tandem with Mr. Windham Loopesko, President of W. E. Loopesko & Associates (WELA), the CEUCE co-organized the Silesia, Poland-Colorado Trade Mission in October of 2009. CEUCE perceived the opportunity as an exciting and tangible means to deepen economic, political and academic linkages between Colorado and Europe, as well as increase CEUCE impact with local leaders in Colorado.

With the support ofCEO/President of the World Trade Center of Denver, Jim Reis; the Honorary Consul of Poland to Colorado, Tomasz Skotnicki; the Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Office of International Affairs, George Boutin; and the Head Minister of Trade and Investment at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Zbigniew Kubacki, WELA and the CEUCE hosted 23 Polish delegates in Colorado from October 20 – 25, 2009. Members of the Polish delegation included Polish municipal officials from the capital of Silesia, business executives and university representatives. WELA and CEUCE invited Colorado counterparts from the public, private and academic sectors to meet with the Polish delegation to catalyze economic, political and research opportunities between Colorado and Poland, central Europe and the European Union (EU).

CEUCE’s Key Note Speakers during the mission:

• Denver Mayor, John Hickenlooper
• Boulder Mayor, Matt Appelbaum
• Colorado Senator, Rollie Heath
• Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Director of Marketing and Technology, Janet Fritz
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Director of Trade and Investment in Europe, Sandi Moilanen
• Boulder County Commissioner, Will Toor
• Boulder County, Director of Boulder Community and Sustainability Planning, David Driskell
• Natural Capitalism Solutions CEO, Jeff Hohensee

CEUCE arranged private meetings with, among others:

• CEO of REMAX International
• President of the Denver Technology Center
• Executives of CH2MHILL
• City of Denver
• City of Boulder
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• National Center for Atmospheric Research

CEUCE and WELA are in initial planning stages with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington DC and the Mayor of Katowice, Poland to organize a follow up Colorado-Silesia, Poland Trade Mission in 2010.

CEUCE and Western Union, Transatlantic Affairs Events Series
Special Guest: Ambassador of the EU to the US, John Bruton
October 2009
Denver, CO

The inauguration of the CEUCE Transatlantic Affairs Events Series, sponsored by Western Union, established the on-going effort to expand dialogues and activities concerning transatlantic and international political economy issues in Colorado. CEUCE was proud to announce the current Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, John Bruton, as the key note speaker of the first Transatlantic Affairs Events Series. Ambassador Bruton previously served as the Prime Minister of Ireland from 1994-1997, during which time Ireland's economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.7% and became known to world as the "Celtic Tiger."

This event was the first of many high level visits of European public servants and business people to Denver, Colorado and the Mountain West Region.

Turkish Foreign Policy Lecture
Special Guest: Turkish Consul-General to Los Angeles, Hakan Tekin
October 2009
University of Colorado at Boulder

In partnership with the Department of Political Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder, CEUCE hosted the Consul General of Turkey in Los Angeles, Hakan Tekin, for a public lecture titled, "Easing the Tensions and Rebuilding Trust in a Troubled Region; Recent Trends in Turkish Foreign Policy." Additionally, Consul Tekin held a meeting with the Turkish campus community.

EU Business and Policy Practices Seminar
Special Guest: Member of the European Parliament, Mr. John Purvis
March 2009
University of Colorado at Boulder

The CEUCE hosted Mr. John Purvis, European Parliamentarian (1974-1984, and since 1999) and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (since 2002) for the first EU Business and Policy Practices Seminar at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).  Mr. Purvis presented a lecture, “Global Turmoil: The Transatlantic Dimension,” and spoke about how the global financial crisis was unfolding in the EU.  Having served as an MEP for more than twenty years, Mr. Purvis was exceptionally well-positioned to offer an insider’s perspective on the European Parliament and how the Parliament was responding to the economic turmoil of 2008-2009. Mr. Purvis highlighted the need for cooperation between the US and the EU more than ever in order to avoid the danger of nationalistic protectionism.