JHU SAIS to Hold Forum on 50th Anniversary of U.S.-EU Relations Sen. Joseph Biden to Give Keynote Address

The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) will hold a conference, "Mars, Venus-Or Mecury? A Larger Europe and American Interests," on Thursday, 05/6 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This event, hosted by the Center for Transatlantic Relations, marks 50 years of U.S.-EU relations and the enlargement of the European Union. Panelists will address questions such as: Is a bigger Europe a better Europe for America? Or will current transatlantic economic and political tensions worsen? What are the 06/Summits-G8, U.S.-EU and NATO-likely to produce? What about Iraq?

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-De) will give the forum's keynote luncheon address about a larger Europe and American interests at 12:30 p.m.

Preceding Biden's address, the following panel discussion will take place:

10 a.m. "Mars, Venus-Or Mercury? Can Commerce Trump Diplomacy at a Time of War?"

¨ Jürgen Strube, chairman of UNICE (the European Employers' Federation) and chairman of BASF Corporations

¨ Rockwell Schnabel, U.S. ambassador to the European Union

¨ Lionel Barber, managing editor of the Financial Times

¨ Joseph Quinlan, fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations

The Center for Transatlantic Relations is hosting this event together with the American Consortium on European Studies, the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Financial Times and Transatlantic magazine.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Kenney Auditorium of the school's Nitze Building, located at 1740 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., in Washington, D.C. Members of the public should RSVP to [email protected] or 202.663.5730.

Members of the media who plan to cover the event should respond to Felisa Neuringer Klubes at the SAIS Public Affairs Office at 202.663.5626 or [email protected].