On Thursday, July 14, 2015 David O’Sullivan, European Union Ambassador to the United States of America spent the day in Philadelphia for an official visit. Ambassador O’Sullivan met with state and local government officials, conducted various press interviews, and attended an exclusive luncheon in his honor with British American Business Council (BABC) and Irish American Business Chamber & Network (IABCN) board members at CBS Broadcast Center.
Ambassador O’Sullivan’s arrival in Philadelphia could not have been more perfectly timed. The Greek debt crises and the Iran nuclear deal occurring concurrent to this scheduled meeting leant itself to a highly dynamic discussion about economic and political developments within the European Union. Ambassador O’Sullivan spoke to these global matters as well as the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) – the world’s largest free trade agreement. This game-changing pact could establish new global trading rules and standards that could help both sides of the Atlantic maintain dominance in an increasingly competitive world economy. Attendees had the unique opportunity to actively engage in valuable dialogue with Ambassador O’Sullivan. According to the Ambassador:
TTIP is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to update the rules that govern transatlantic trade and investment. Although the EU and the US remain the most important economic corridor in the world, a new deal is needed to unleash the full potential of our economic relationship and remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. This means getting rid of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade, cutting costly duplication by better aligning our regulatory apparatuses, and making it easier to invest in each other’s economies. This is good for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic and will bring new export and job prospects to Pennsylvania.
TTIP negotiations, formally launched in July 2013, and tenth rounds began in Brussels on July 13, 2015. For more about TTIP negotiations, visit www.euintheus.org.
The EU is represented in the US by the Washington, DC Delegation of the European Union, which works in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 28 EU Member States. The delegation is a full-fledged diplomatic mission, representing the European Union in dealings with the US government in areas that are part of the EU’s remit. They promote EU policies in the US, which includes presenting and explaining EU actions to the US Administration and Congress. By engaging with political actors, the media, academia, business, and civil society, they raise awareness of EU issues and concerns, and promote the importance of the EU-US relationship among the American public. They also analyze and report on the political, social, and economic situation in the US to EU headquarters in Brussels.
Ambassador David O’Sullivan assumed his current position as EU Ambassador to the United States in November 2014. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of the European Union’s External Action Service (2011-14); as Director General for Trade (2005-10); and as Secretary General of the European Commission (2000-10). He began his diplomatic career in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and has also served at the EU Delegation to Japan. He is an Irish citizen, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, and is married with two children.
The BABC was honored to collaborate with the EU office and the IABCN to welcome Ambassador O’Sullivan to Philadelphia for his first official visit.
Click here to view photos from the exclusive luncheon.
Click here for all press related to the Ambassador’s Official visit to Philadelphia.
Audio of the Ambassador’s interviews:
