February 10 (Pittsburgh): Speech delivered by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at the Rededication of the EU Centre of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh
Speech title: "From Pittsburgh to Lisbon: reform in times of change"

At the University of Pittsburgh EU Center of Excellence, Mr. Barroso said: "Both the EU and the US realise that the fulfilment of their ambitions cannot be carried out in a vacuum; we need to work together to promote common values such as democracy, freedom, respect for human rights and the rule of law; to strengthen the world economy, notably by co-operation within the WTO; to address the serious issue of climate change and, when called upon, work side by side to address the consequences of natural disasters."

>> speech transcripts

February 9 (Washington, DC): President Barrosos receives honorary degree from Georgetown University.
Speech title: "Speaking with a Common Voice: Energy Policy in the 21st Century"

Barroso stressed the need for the EU to address its reliance on unstable regions for energy: "Europe is becoming ever more dependent on oil and gas imports from geopolitically uncertain regions... Europe is already the largest importer and second largest consumer of energy in the world, and it is currently dependent on external sources for 50% of its needs. This could rise to 70% by 2030..."

>> speech summary

Ambassador John Bruton, European Union Ambassador to the United States, visited Florida International University (FIU) to give a talk on EU-US relations.

Speaker bio: John Bruton was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland from 1994 to 1997. Ambassador Bruton was first elected to the Irish parliament in 1969 but resigned his seat in November 2004 to become the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States. Throughout his career, Ambassador Bruton was deeply involved in the Irish peace process. John Bruton presented his credentials to President Bush in December 2004. He leads a large multi-national staff at the embassy offices in Washingotn, DC, and acts as the representative for the 25 European Union member states in the United States of America.

>> more information

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke at the EU Center in Washington, DC, on October 18, 2005. The University of Wisconsin-Madison joined in the event via video link. Footage of the address, including the Q&A following, are listed below.

Video: requires Windows Media Player
Speech: http://www.sais-jhu.edu/media/barroso_101805.wmv
Q&A: http://www.sais-jhu.edu/media/barroso_101805qa.wmv

Audio:
Speech: http://www.sais-jhu.edu/mediastream/barroso-speech.ram
Q&A: http://www.sais-jhu.edu/mediastream/barroso-qa.ram

The  Political and Development Section at the Delegation of the European Commission in Washington DC is pleased to announce a “Getting to Know Europe” grant competition for activities that encourage greater understanding of the many ties between local communities in the United States and the European Union.  Activities can include competitions, publications and other information products, training and briefing sessions, study and exchange visits, and town twinning arrangements. All activities should be focused at the local level, engaging students, teachers, local government and civil society leaders, and others in promoting greater understanding of the European Union.  

Please note that (due to the limited amount of funding available and the existence of the EU Centers of Excellence and other programs sponsored by DG Education and Culture) universities cannot apply to this competition .  They may however have local partners interested in the competition. The application submission deadline is August 23, 2006 .  Full details of the competition can be viewed on the Delegation website:

http://www.eurunion.org/infores/CallforProposGetttoKnowEU.htm.

Europe Day Celebration
May 9 marks the annual celebration of Europe's ongoing role as a dynamic cultural and political force in the world. Various events and activities will be held globally in honor of the occasion. For more information about attending or participating in an EUCE site activity, please contact the EUCE outreach coordinator at a Network Center near you.

> Quick Facts about the EU [Word]

European Union Delegation Announcement of EUCE
The EU Delegation in Washington, DC, recently posted its announcement of the 2005-2008 EUCE network site awardees. The program is intended " to promote people-to-people ties across the Atlantic."

• Announcement link
• Excerpts:

"The EU Centers program has helped create a foothold for EU studies in US higher education and served as an information resource for a broad US audience, with extensive outreach to regional audiences and the policy community. The recipients of awards in this cycle have been designated "Centers of Excellence" in recognition of the high quality, variety and depth of their programming."

" The University of North Carolina will serve as Network and Outreach Coordinator, with the goal of promoting cooperation and sharing best practices within the network. North Carolina will also establish a network website providing easy access to research and teaching materials produced by the Centers."