John Bruton, European Union Ambassador to the United States and former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), will speak at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. in the NHIOP auditorium.
Bruton will discuss "The Future for EU and US Economic and Political Relations" in an event that is free and open to the public. The New Hampshire Office of International Commerce and Salem, N.H.-based Good Leads will co-sponsor the event with the NHIOP.
During his term as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997, Bruton helped transform the Ireland into one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Known as the "Celtic Tiger," the Irish economy grew at a nearly 9 percent annual average rate under Bruton’s leadership, peaking at 11 percent in 1997. The year before he took office, economic growth in Ireland failed to achieve 3 percent.
Bruton also was deeply involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. While Prime Minister, he presided over a successful Irish EU Presidency in 1996 and helped finalize the Stability and Growth Pact, which governs the management of the single European currency, the Euro. Before being appointed Ambassador in 2004, he served as a leading member of the convention that drafted the European Constitution.
Since taking up his position in Washington, John Bruton has met with the President and former Presidents of the United States and visited with governors, mayors, business leaders, students and more than 250 members of Congress to explain that the expanding European Union is good for the US economy and good for American jobs and security.