HONORING THE SERVICE OF EUROPEAN UNION AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES DAVID O'SULLIVAN UPON HIS RETIREMENT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 36
(Extensions of Remarks - February 27, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE SERVICE OF EUROPEAN UNION AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES
DAVID O'SULLIVAN UPON HIS RETIREMENT
______
HON. JIM COSTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished
service of European Union Ambassador to the United States, David
O'Sullivan, who will retire his post at the end of the month after
nearly five years of tireless advocacy for transatlantic unity. It has
been my privilege to work alongside Ambassador O'Sullivan as we strive
to secure our mutual interests in national security, trade, and foreign
affairs.
Ambassador O'Sullivan was appointed in November 2014, shottly after
receiving the EU Transatlantic Business Award from the American Chamber
of Commerce for his contributions to improving our economic ties with
Europe. As Ambassador, he has devoted himself to strengthening the EU-
U.S. trade relationship and worked to ensure that other large economic
powers play by the rules. In 2018, he promoted a trilateral approach
between the EU, the U.S., and Japan to tackle the issue of Chinese
overcapacity in steel manufacturing.
In his four decades of public service for the European Union,
Ambassador O'Sullivan has worked diligently for international
cooperation. Prior to serving as Ambassador, he helped establish one of
the world's largest diplomatic organizations, the European External
Action Service, and served as its Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to
2014. He held senior positions with the European Commission, including
Head of Commission President Prodi's Cabinet from 1999 to 2000 and
Secretary General of the European Commission from 2000 to 2005. In his
capacity as Director General for Trade and Chief Negotiator for the
Doha Development Round from 2005 to 2010, he secured numerous free
trade agreements, including the conclusion ofthe EU's agreement with
South Korea.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, the Ambassador's interest in global politics
and international affairs was first inspired by his father, Lieutenant
General Gerry O'Sullivan, who served as Chief of Staff of the Irish
Defense Forces. While his father served as liaison to the United
Nations in the Congo in 1961, David attended elementary school in my
state of California and later worked two summers as a YMCA camp
counselor in Chicago.
The bonds of friendship with our transatlantic allies are now more
important than ever and must continue to be founded upon our shared
values of democracy, respect for human dignity, and the rule of law.
Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in
recognizing Ambassador O'Sullivan's enduring contributions to
transatlantic unity and EU-U.S. trade relations. I thank him for his
service and wish him a happy retirement.
____________________