Consul General Ceert Criel of Belgium
Consul General Geert Criel of Belgium talked about the transatlantic economy and the importance of the transatlantic relationship. The Consul General started by observing that in Los Angeles the focus is more on the transpacific economy and the common vernacular mostly deals with the relations between Asia and the US, in particular China and India. Nonetheless the Consul General opined that the transatlantic relationship remains economically and politically arguably the most important in the world. Consul General Criel does not agree, as is sometimes professed, that in a globalized world Europe is on the decline and does not have to be concerned with.
Economically, the transatlantic relationship is the bread and butter of corporate America. The Consul General quoted data from the study The Transatlantic Economy by the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University: the combined US and EU GDP made up for 45% of the world’s GDP, transatlantic trade amounts to almost 2 billion $ a day, U.S. investments in Europe and European investments in the U.S. dwarf other international investment relations (in 2007 EU investments in China represented only 4% of EU investments in the U.S.). The Consul General went on to quote that European companies in the U.S. make up 10% of the research and development expenses in the U.S.
On the political level as well the transatlantic relation is strong. Consul General Criel specifically mentioned NATO, but there are many other levels of foreign policy cooperation.
The Consul General did not deny the challenges facing the EU. He mentioned, as an example, that the fact that the EU was not included in some major meetings at the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 was a wake-up call for the EU members about their role on the world scene.
In order to continue playing a major role at the international level, Consul General Criel stated, the EU needs to speak as much as possible with one voice. In his opinion the EU needs to be stronger economically and more united politically. The Consul General acknowledged the internal discussions within the EU on those subjects, but added that the recently ratified Lisbon Treaty gives the EU better tools to reach those goals. The new Treaty allows for more policy decisions with a qualified majority rather than having to wait for a unanimous decision. The Treaty also created two important positions: the High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the new full-time President of the European Council. Consul General Criel emphasized the valuable role that the permanent EU President can play. Despite having little power on paper, Consul General Criel said, the EU President can give the European Union a strategic direction. Consul General Criel backed up his assertion by quoting several Anglo-Saxon media which similarly acknowledge the influence of the EU President, Herman van Rompuy.