Public Forum: The European Union and it’s Relevance for Atlanta as a Global City

Europe Day commemorates the occasion on which in 1950 then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman first proposed the concept that evolved into today’s European Union. From May 9 to May 16, 2009 – with a special focus on May 9, Europe Day – EU Centers of Excellence, universities, think tanks, other non-governmental organizations and the Embassies and Consulates of EU Member States around the US took part in Europe Week 2009, hosting events designed to create a better understanding of the European Union. The European Union Center of Excellence at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Department of Economic Development celebrated with a Public Forum on The European Union and its Relevance for Atlanta as a Global City.Welcoming remarks: Dr. Vicki Birchfield, Director, European Union Center of Excellence at Georgia Tech ; Commissioner Kenneth C. Stewart, Department of Economic Development ; The Hon. George Novak, Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic. Keynote Speaker: Mr. Anthony Smallwood, Head of Press and Public Diplomacy for the European Commission Delegation to Washington, D.C. Panelists: The Hon. Benoit Standaert, Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium ; The Hon. Peter Wickenden, Deputy Consul General of the United Kingdom ; The Hon. Philippe Ardanaz, Consul General of the French Republic ; The Hon. Dr. Lutz Goergens, Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany ; The Hon. Vassilious Gouloussis, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic ; Mr. Wolfgang Krueger, Executive Director, Goethe-Zentrum / German Cultural Center – Atlanta ; Ms. Hélène Courault Touré, Executive Director, Alliance Française d'Atlanta ; Mr. Jim Blair, Senior Manager, Global Business Development, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development.Presented on May 11, 2009 from 4 - 5:30 pm in the Le Craw Auditorium, College of Management, Technology Square at the Georgia Institute of Technology.Runtime: 92:02 minute