Global Business Briefing with Her Excellency Adina-Ioana Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport

On May 23, 2023, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with United Airlines to host a Global Business Briefing with Commissioner Vălean. The discussion, moderated by Karim Lesina, Chair, Meridian Corporate Council Executive Committee and Executive Vice President - Chief External Affairs Officer, Millicom, covered key areas of global trends in the world of transportation and perspectives on global food chain supplies and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Adina-Ioana Vălean has been serving as European Commissioner for Transport under the leadership of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen since 2019. She previously served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2007 until 2019, where she chaired of the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in 2019. Vălean became a Member of the European Parliament on 1 January 2007, with the accession of Romania to the European Union. Throughout her time in parliament, she served on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy; in 2019, she became the committee’s chairwoman. During her time on the committee, she was the Parliament’s rapporteur for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the European Union roaming regulations.

The United States and the European Union (EU) have a significant relationship in the transportation sector, collaborating on various issues, policies, and initiatives but more can be done. In EVs the U.S. and EU have been working together to promote the adoption and development of electric vehicles. The U.S. and EU have historically pursued different approaches to vehicle emissions standards. However, there has been some convergence in recent years. The EU has adopted stringent CO2 emissions standards for new vehicles, while the U.S. has implemented Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. It is integral for the two regions to continue engaging in dialogue and technical cooperation to align and harmonize standards where possible. Lastly, research must lead the way – fostering cooperation in transportation research and innovation will only lead to new breakthroughs in alternative fuels, autonomous vehicles, and sustainable transportation solutions.

Project summary

Global Business Briefing with Her Excellency Adina-Ioana Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport | May 2023
Number of Visitors:	20
Number of Attendees:	20
Regions:	Europe and Eurasia, Western Hemisphere
Impact Areas:	Transportation, Science and Technology, Business and Trade, Energy and the Environment
Program Areas:	Diplomatic Engagement
Partners:	Diplomatic Corps, Private Sector