Vice-President Šefčovič pays an official visit to the United States of America, visits Houston and Washington, D.C.

From today until Thursday, Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič pays an official visit to the United States of America. In Houston, Texas, Vice-President Šefčovič today visits the Johnson Space Centre, where he will take part in a discussion on EU-US space strategies. Also in Houston, today and tomorrow Tuesday he takes part in the CERAWeek2017, a major annual international gathering of energy industry leaders, experts, government officials and policymakers. During the event, Vice-President Šefčovič will be meeting Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation; Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon; Lamar McKay, Deputy Group Chief Executive, BP; Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA); Hans-Ulrich Engel, CFO of BASF; and Mario Mehren, CEO of Wintershall. He will also participate in panel discussions on clean energy transition and on sustainability. In Washington, D.C., Vice-President Šefčovič on Wednesday will be meeting Gary Cohn, chief economic advisor to US President Donald Trump and Director of the United States National Economic Council; will take part in a roundtable with industry representatives and civil society representatives hosted by the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); and will give a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce.  On Thursday in Washington D.C., Vice-President Šefčovič will meet NGOs and think-tanks on clean energy transition during a discussion hosted by WRI Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities; will meet with Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive of the World Bank; and will meet with leading members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. “Both the EU and the US need to maintain a strong transatlantic relationship, which is in their mutual interest. The global transition to a low carbon economy is a positive agenda and an irreversible trend, with positive impact on jobs and growth. The EU is ready to play its role as global leader in the fight against climate change“, said Vice-President Šefčovič ahead of his visit to the United States of America.