Ambassador David O’Sullivan presented his credentials to President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on November 18, 2014, formally assuming the role of European Union Ambassador to the United States.
In his Presentation of Credentials Letter to President Obama, Ambassador O’Sullivan wrote that “in these testing times, the transatlantic relationship remains a solid bedrock.” He noted the strong EU-US cooperation on a host of pressing issues, including Ukraine and the Iran nuclear negotiations. Referring to the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Ambassador O’Sullivan called it a “once in a generation opportunity to strengthen the greatest economic corridor in the world and give a significant boost to global trade.”
Ambassador O’Sullivan is only the second diplomat to hold the position of EU Ambassador to the United States, established when the Treaty of Lisbon came into force on December 1, 2009. The Treaty’s new institutional set up has empowered the EU to speak with one voice and to play its full part on the global stage. Ambassador O’Sullivan represents the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, under the authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“Throughout my professional life I have had the opportunity to contribute to building a unified, prosperous and outward looking Union,” wrote Ambassador O’Sullivan. “The United States has been a close friend of the EU since its origins as the Coal and Steel Community over six decades ago. Reforms on the EU side have led to more unity and coherence as a global actor and partner for the United States. As a beneficiary and custodian of that legacy, I am mindful of my responsibility and will spare no effort to strengthen our unique and indispensable ties.”
Ambassador O’Sullivan is an Irish national, who most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service. He was Director General for Trade from 2005 to 2010. Previously he was Secretary General of the European Commission from June 2000 to November 2005, Head of Cabinet of Commission President Romano Prodi and Director General for Education and Training.
Ambassador O’Sullivan started his career in the Irish Foreign Ministry and spent four years in the Commission Delegation in Tokyo. He has a background in economics, graduating from Trinity College, Dublin and having completed post graduate studies at the College of Europe, Bruges. Ambassador O’Sullivan is married with two children.
For more information on Ambassador O’Sullivan, please see: http://www.euintheus.org/who-we-are/ambassadors-corner; Follow Ambassador O’Sullivan @EUAmbUS.