The Evolving Transatlantic Agenda

On July 11, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings hosted Jim Murphy MP, Great Britain’s Minister for Europe, for a discussion of the role of public diplomacy in the new transatlantic agenda.

In the coming years, European and American leaders will face pressing global challenges such as terrorism, international trade negotiations and climate change. The transnational nature of these challenges requires joint action and close collaboration between American and European leaders. Though the United States and Europe have a long history of cooperation on important policy issues, polls suggest that public attitudes diverge on the most appropriate solutions to these challenges. In his address, Minister Murphy discussed how public diplomacy is likely to shape policymaking in the United States and Europe and impact U.S. and European ability to engage elsewhere in the world on shared concerns.

Murphy, a member of the British Parliament for the past 10 years, was appointed Minister for Europe in June 2007. Murphy has also served as a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Whip, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, and most recently Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions. His fellow members of Parliament recently voted Murphy “Minister of the Year.”

CUSE Director and Brookings Senior Fellow Daniel Benjamin provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. After the program, Minister Murphy took audience questions.