EU Ambassador to the US to speak on “European Foreign Policy in the Making”

Ambassador João Vale de Almeida  is coming to North Carolina as part of the “Beyond the Beltway Initiative” of the Delegation of the EU to the US. Since taking the helm of the EU Delegation in 2010, Vale de Almeida has traveled across the US to engage with local and state government officials, public and private sector leaders, and think tanks and educational forums. His visit to UNC is supported by UNC’s Center for European Studies/European Union Center of Excellence and the Ambassadors Forum organized by the Richard M. Krasno Distinguished Professorship, the Center for European Studies and the Department of History.

Ambassador João Vale de Almeida presented his credentials to President Obama on August 10, 2010. Prior to his appointment, he served as the director general for external relations at the European Commission, the EU’s executive body. As the most senior official under the authority of the High Representative/Vice-President Baroness Ashton, he helped formulate and execute the EU’s foreign policy and played a key role in preparing for the new European External Action Service introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon. From 2004 to 2009, Vale de Almeida was the head of cabinet for European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. He accompanied President Barroso to European Council meetings and ensured coordination with private offices of heads of state and governments in all 28 Member States of the EU. Vale de Almeida was also the president’s personal representative for negotiations on the Treaty of Lisbon and acted as the EU “Sherpa” for G8 and G20 Summits. He attended G8 Summits between 2005 and 2010 and accompanied President Barroso to the launching of G20 Summits from 2008 to 2010.  Earlier in his career, Vale de Almeida held several senior positions in the European Commission and the Economic and Social Committee and worked closely with former Commission Presidents Jacques Delors, Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi. Prior to joining President Barroso’s team in 2004, he held a senior position in the Directorate General for Education and Culture after serving as deputy chief spokesman of the European Commission. Vale de Almeida joined the European Commission in 1982 at its Delegation in Lisbon, after spending seven years as a journalist. He holds a degree in history from the University of Lisbon and has studied and received training in journalism and management in the United States, France, Japan and the United Kingdom. Vale de Almeida was decorated by the President of the Republic of Portugal with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Infante D. Henrique in 2011.

Note: Seating is limited, but the lecture will be broadcast live to an overflow location, 1005 FedEx Global Education Center. Parking will not be available at the FedEx Global Education Center; however, for visitor parking lots, please see the Department of Public Safety.

Event contact:  Erica Edwards, executive director, Center for European Studies, 919-962-6765
Media contact: Katie Bowler Young, director of global relations, UNC Global, 919-962-4504