Assistant Secretary Gordon on the Lisbon Treaty: “a Milestone for Europe and for its Role in the World.”

22 December 2009

Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon

"The United States and the European Union form a community of shared values and a partnership of shared interests. We are united by our deep commitment to freedom, security, human rights, the rule of law, and open markets. Our 800 million democratically-governed citizens are bound together by enduring links of culture and commerce, by our shared history and our common hopes for the future." On December 15, 2009, Dr. Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs delivered a statement on the Lisbon Treaty before the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, DC.  He emphasized the long history of cooperation between the United States and Europe and the importance of working together to overcome challenges the U.S. and the European Union face today. “In view of all of the many ties that bind the United States and Europe together, the Administration welcomed the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on December 1. “Given the importance of the U.S.-EU partnership, we hope that the Lisbon Treaty succeeds in strengthening Europe’s role in world affairs,” he said.

The Lisbon Treaty: Implications for Future Relations Between the European Union and the United States
Read the full-text statement by Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs or watch the video.

Dr. Philip Gordon was nominated as Assistant Secretary on March 6, 2009 and took the oath of office on May 15, 2009.  He was the Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton and played a key role in developing and coordinating NATO policy in the run-up to the Alliance's 50th Anniversary summit in Washington, DC.  He has published a number of books and articles on international relations and foreign policy and has been a frequent contributor to major publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, and Financial Times. 

The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Gordon, implements U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia. The Bureau promotes U.S. interests in the region on issues such as national security, NATO enlargement, coordination with the European Union and other regional organizations, support for democracy, human rights, civil society, economic prosperity, the war on terrorism, and nonproliferation.