The global financial meltdown, Eurozone crisis, and recent tensions in the Middle East have presented a number of economic, political, and foreign policy challenges for the European Union and its member states. This public discussion with the Consuls General of France and Germany, respectively, will examine the implications of these challenges for the EU and the transatlantic relationship. The interviewer and moderator for this panel will be David Inge, former WILL-AM 580 host.

About the panelists: 

Mr. Graham Paul assumed the position of Consul General of France in Chicago in June 2010. Prior to the present appointment, Mr. Paul was Deputy Head of the French Embassy in Berlin (2007-2010) and Consul General in Munich (2006-2007). Having joined the Foreign Service in 1984, Mr. Paul has also been posted to Yaoundé, Cameroon; Paris, France and Hamburg, Germany; Vienna, Austria; and Tokyo, Japan.

Dr. Christian Brecht has been the German Consul General since August 2012. Prior to his current post, Dr. Brecht was Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations in Ottawa, Canada (2011-2012) and Consul General in Karachi, Pakistan (2008-2011). Dr. Brecht, who holds a Ph.D. in law studies from Geneva, has also held Federal Foreign Office posts in Bonn, Germany; Beijing, China; Rangoon, Myanmar; Santiago, Chile; Sydney, Australia; and Paris, France.