Karel De Gucht on EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Channel: IIEA
Date: 2013-05-27

About the Speech:

The launch of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was announced in February 2013 by U.S. President Barack Obama, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. This decision was based on the recommendations of the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth, which was co-chaired by European Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht. As the Irish Presidency works to reach agreement among EU Member States on a European negotiating mandate for the transatlantic talks, Commissioner De Gucht discussed his efforts to foster more transatlantic trade and will share his insights on the forthcoming negotiations between the EU and the United States.

 

About the Speaker:

Karel De Gucht has been the European Commissioner for Trade since 2010. Previously he was European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. In his native Belgium he has served as Deputy Prime Minister (2008-09), Minister for International Trade (2007-09), and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs (2004-09). He was a Member of the European Parliament from 1980 to 1994. Commissioner De Gucht is a lawyer by profession and served as a Professor in European Law at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.