The US and Europe: Rivals or Partners?

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28

10:30 – 4:15 State Department Tours

1:00 – 5:30 Workshops for Council Leaders and Staff

6:30 - Opening Reception Honoring 50th Anniversary of Great Decisions.
Hosts: FPA President Noel Lateef and WACA Chairman Amb. James R. Jones

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29

9:15 – 10:30 Plenary
What Americans Need to Know about the Europe and the EU
Speaker: Ambassador Robert Hunter of RAND

10:45 – 12:00 Plenary
Why Our Military and Security Perspectives So Different.
Speaker: Dr. Theo Sommer of Die Zeit

12:30 – 2:30 Leadership Luncheons
Invited Embassies: EU (c), France (c), UK (c), Italy (c), Netherlands (c), Greece (c), Spain (c), Austria (c), Ireland (c), Portugal (c), Poland (c), Denmark (c), Czech Republic (c), Norway (c), Lithuania (c), Estonia (c), Finland (c), Bulgaria (c), Romania (c), Serbia and Montenegro (c), Bosnia and Herzegovina (c), Luxembourg (c), Liechtenstein (c), Belgium (c), Slovakia (c).

3:00 – 4:30 Discussion Groups and Workshops
Workshop A - French Views of America – Pierre-Yves Dugua
Workshop B - Muslims in Europe – Shireen Hunter
Workshop C - European Public Opinion – Andy Kohut
Workshop D - US-UK: Special Relationship Damaged? – Sir Eldon Griffiths
Workshop E - Will Europe Become a Rival Superpower? – Dan Hamilton
Workshop F - Future of NATO – Anthony Cordesman
Workshop G - Turkey and the European Union – Jerry Leach Workshop H - US, Europe, and Iraq – John Donvan
Workshop I - Putin’s Russia – Angela Stent
Workshop J - Economist Magazine – Humphry Rolleston

4:30 Plenary
Economic Ties: Weaker or Stronger?
Speaker: Lionel Barber, US Managing Editor, Financial Times

6:30 – State Department Reception in Diplomatic Reception Rooms on the Eighth Floor
Host: Under Secretary Marc Grossman

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30

9:00 – 10:00 Plenary
The Media, Foreign Policy, and the Transatlantic Rift
Speaker: Andrea Mitchell, Chief NBC News Correspondent .

10:30 – 11:45 Plenary
US and France
Speaker: Amb. Jean-David Levitte

12:30 – 2:30 Luncheon
Domination or Leadership? America and its European Allies.
Speaker: Zbigniew Brzezinski:

3:00 – 4:15 Discussion Groups and Workshops.

Group A: US and Germany – Amb. J.D. Bindenagel
Group B: Anti-Americanism in Europe – Esther Brimmer
Group C: End of the American Era – Charles Kupchan
Group D: New Poland – Radek Sikorski
Group E: Europe and Immigration – Bob Guttman
Group F: Peace in the Balkans? Gen. Bill Nash (c)
Group G: Healthcare: Better in Europe? – Dr. Richard Southby
Group H: EU Enlargement – Michael Gremminger
Group I: Europe, US, Middle East, and Oil – Dan Yergin
Group J: Overview of National Geographic Society – Mary Lee Elden

7:30 All-Europe Banquet with a presentation by Sen. Tim Wirth.
Distinguished International Journalist Award
Capitol Steps Performance

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31

9:00 Summation of Conference and National Membership Meeting.

10:30 Formal End of Conference

10:30 Workshops for Council Leaders and Staff

11:00 Spy Tour of Washington and Holocaust Museum