Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to speak before you today in New York at the Bloomberg Global Regulatory Forum. I will speak here as a European, and as a friend of America. Let us acknowledge that maintaining this dual identity has come under significant strain over the past year: you are well aware that the institutional, geopolitical and economic shifts introduced by the new US administration are prompting serious questions among the friends of America worldwide – and not only in Europe. I am aware that what is perceived as Europe's persistent economic lag raises doubts here in the United States. So, I will begin by giving some insights about Europe's economic awakening which is – although too slow – underway (I). Then, I will explore how a stronger Europe could preserve a fruitful dialogue with the United States based on some focused and shared long-term interests (II) – and here I will come to the subject of financial regulation as addressed by this morning's session.
