FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT VALÉRY GISCARD D’ESTAING, IN AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC EVENT, TO DISCUSS EUROPEAN CONVENTION AND EUROPE’S FUTURE

Monday, May 13, 2002 – Closing Session of the Jean Monnet Seminar Series at NYU School of Law

The former President of France, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, in an important public visit to the United States, will discuss The European Convention, related issues on the future of Europe, European-American relations and global governance generally.

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing will speak at the Closing Session of the seminar on Monday, May 13, at New York University School of Law, 40 Washington Square South, Greenberg Lounge, 4 – 6 PM. Media is invited. For a press reservation, please call Joan M. Dim at 212.998.6849.

As head of The European Convention, formed by European Heads of State and Government in 2001 to consider the future of Europe, Giscard d’Estaing opened The Convention on February 28, 2002 in Brussels. This “European Philadelphia” (as it was quickly dubbed on both sides of the Atlantic) is scheduled to last for one year and expected to end with a formal proposal for some kind of Constitution for Europe.

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s visit takes place in the context of the Seminar on Global Governance and the future of Europe, which is organized by the Jean Monnet Center at NYU School of Law and the Center for European Studies at NYU.

A special feature of this seminar is its informal, direct format. Invitees are not asked to deliver papers or speeches but to engage in a wide-ranging session of conversation with the seminar conveners. The result, as demonstrated with previous guests, has been a remarkable level of frankness and an in-depth exploration of issues.

This year, the Centers hosted discussions with former President Bill Clinton; Prime Minister of Portugal António Guterres; former Prime Minister of Italy and Vice President of the European Convention Giuliano Amato, and former Secretary General of NATO and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Willy Claes.

04/15/02