Europe’s insignificance in the world arena is a thing of the past, foreign consuls general said at Boston University Thursday.’
‘Politically speaking, we have been absent from the international stage for many years, but today I’ve got great news,’ Fran’ccedil;ois Gauthier, the consul general of France in Boston said to about 60 Boston University students. ‘Europe is back.’
Gauthier spoke about the current and future issues facing the European Union alongside Phil Budden, the United Kingtom consul general, at the Howard Thurman Center. BU Model United Nations Association hosted the lecture.
As consuls general, Budden and Gauthier act as representatives of their countries in the New England area.
The EU is a political and economic union of 27 member nations with 23 official languages that works to address issues on European and global levels as an integrated world force, Gauthier said.
Gauthier said the EU ceasefire negotiations with Russia and Georgia in August and its help with the development of the U.S. economic bailout plan in October are proof of the EU’s redoubled presence in world affairs.
‘When the EU is united, it can bring change to the international community,’ Gauthier said. ‘We want to do this in close cooperation with the United States.’
Budden said the EU’s main interests are a continued commitment to multinational relationships, opening trade negotiations with developing countries and establishing foreign security policies.
The EU is also concerned about climate change, Budden said.
‘The European Union can’t solve it alone, and the United States can’t solve it alone, but together, these global institutions can make change,’ Budden said.’
Though the discussion started 30 minutes late, attendees took part in an extended question-and-answer session after the consuls general spoke.
Budden he was impressed with the turnout and students’ questions during his post-lecture discussion, he told the Daily Free Press after the event.
‘I see it as an investment, because when we go to these institutions, we get to speak to leaders of the future,’ Budden said.
College of Communication sophomore Tyler Sit said he found the discussion informative.
‘I think that the European Union isn’t talked about much as an institution in the United States, and so having an awareness of how the EU runs and what issues it’s facing is really helpful,’ Sit said.
Former BU Model UN vice president Frank Pobutkiewicz, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said the Model UN was pleased with the turnout. He said he thought the speakers did a great job addressing the topics at hand.
‘I hope that everyone who attends can walk away with a better understanding of the where the European Union is headed,” Pobutkiewicz, who is also in the School of Management, said. ‘I believe it is important to have open forums to discuss issues that will one day affect most students at Boston University, regardless of their area of concentration.’
