Eizenstat to speak on WW II reparations, U.S.-European relations

Stuart E. Eizenstat, former U.S. ambassador to the European Union, will give a pair of talks on campus on Tuesday, April 12.

Eizenstat will discuss his book, “Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor and the Unfinished Business of World War II,” in Room 7200 at the UW Law School at 1:30 p.m.

Then, at 3 p.m., he will speak on “Transatlantic Relations in the Second Bush Term,” at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St. Eizenstat’s talks, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the UW–Madison’s European Union Center, in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of International Studies.

During 15 years of government service, Eizenstat held numerous high-level positions, including ambassador to the European Union from 1993-96. He also served as deputy treasury secretary, undersecretary of state and undersecretary of commerce in the Clinton administration, and as White House chief domestic policy adviser for the Carter administration.

During the Clinton administration, he was instrumental in the development of the U.S.-European Union Transatlantic Agenda and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue.

As special representative of President Clinton and the secretary of state, he negotiated major agreements with the French, Swiss, Austrians and Germans on World War II-related issues. These efforts led to his book, in which Eizenstat narrates the process of negotiation and agreement between these nations.

Eizenstat currently leads the international business law department of Covington & Burling of Washington, D.C., is co-chair of the European-American Business Council, and retains responsibilities as special envoy for property claims in central and eastern Europe, advising the Bush administration.