The European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE), along with its European partners and other supporting organizations, hosted on campus this spring an impressive array of influential and prestigious dignitaries.

A series of events to commemorate Europe Day 2011 included a co-sponsored luncheon with the World Affairs Council hosting NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Additionally, Dr. Vicki Birchfield, Director of the EUCE, moderated a discussion on “EU Leadership in an Uncertain World” with panelists including the Consul Generals of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, the Consul of Greece, and the Honorary Consul of Hungary. An afternoon symposium "Industries of the Future: Economic Growth through Clean Energy and Clean Jobs" concluded the Europe Week events. This symposium was co-sponsored with the Ecologic Institute, the German Embassy, and the German Consulate General and focused on sustainable energy and economic development.

Birchfield commented that “the range of events the EUCE organizes - from bringing ambassadors and other high profile speakers to campus, to sponsoring policy relevant research and holding fora addressing global challenges - helps Georgia Tech deliver on its stated goal of greater internationalization across campus and its aim to produce more globally minded citizens."

Other notable guests welcomed to Georgia Tech included the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Madame Isabelle Durant, who gave a speech to 350 people entitled “The EU: Towards the United States of Europe?” and Professor Joseph Nye of the Harvard Kennedy School, a lecture co-sponsored with Georgia Tech’s Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

The latest event took place on May 26th when the EUCE welcomed French Ambassador, His Excellency François Delattre who spoke to an audience that included students, faculty, and local media.