ABOUT US
Who we are
Our Delegation in Washington, D.C., represents and promotes the interests and values of the European Union in the United States. This includes presenting and explaining EU policies and actions to the different branches and levels of the U.S. Administration, Congress, and across the country, as well as promoting EU-U.S. cooperation in all fields. We engage inside and outside of Washington with the American public, political actors, the media, academia, business, think tanks, and civil society to raise awareness on the importance of the transatlantic relationship and its unparalleled contribution to the prosperity and security of Europeans and Americans alike.
Since 1964, the EU has also maintained a diplomatic representation in New York as the EU’s Mission to the United Nations.
In September 2022, the EU opened an office in San Francisco, California, with a focus on digital and tech matters.
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Office building of the EU Delegation to the United States.
Our Office
In 1952, the United States became the first non-member country to recognize the European Coal and Steel Community. Jean Monnet, one of the EU's founding fathers, reciprocated this recognition by choosing Washington, D.C, as the ECSC's first external presence.
Led by Leonard Tennyson, an American journalist and public relations official in the Marshall Plan administration, the two-room, two-person office was located at 805 15th Street NW. After the launch of the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) in 1958, the ECSC Information Office changed its name to the European Communities Information Service.
In 1972, the European Communities Information Service received full diplomatic status when Congress approved legislation and President Richard Nixon signed it into law. The office was then known as the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities to the United States.
In 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon established the EU's diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), and so our Delegation became the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.
The EU Delegation to the United States is located at 2175 K Street NW in Washington, D.C.
EU Office in San Francisco
In September 2022, the EU opened an office in San Francisco, California, with a focus on digital and tech matters. It seeks to promote EU standards and technologies, digital policies, regulations, and governance models, as well as to strengthen cooperation with U.S. stakeholders, including through the work of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council.
The opening of the office is a result of the 2021 EU-U.S. Summit shared commitment to strengthen transatlantic technological cooperation and is a core part of the Conclusions on Digital Diplomacy, adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in July 2022.
The office is currently located at 1 Post Street in San Francisco.
How We Work
The EU Delegation in Washington, D.C, works in teams (known as sections) that cater to important and varied transatlantic priorities.
Trade and Agriculture
Head of Section: Michelangelo Margherita
The Trade and Agriculture section monitors and analyses U.S. political, economic, and regulatory developments in the areas of trade policy, agriculture, industrial policy, and the digital economy.
Press and Public Diplomacy
Head of Section: Adriana Brassart
The Press and Public Diplomacy section enhances awareness of the EU and its policies in the United States. Through digital communications, the media, educational initiatives, cultural events, and outreach activities, the section is the Delegation’s first line of contact with the American public.
Political, Security, and Development
Head of Section: Claire Fitzgibbon
The Political, Security and Development section follows the transatlantic agenda and monitors the work of Congress and the U.S. Administration on foreign, security, and development policy, counterterrorism, justice and home affairs, and human rights.
Global Issues and Innovation
Head of Section: Javier Sancho Velazquez
The Global Issues and Innovation section monitors and analyses U.S. political, economic, and regulatory developments in the areas of environmental protection, climate change, energy, transportation, food safety, public health, consumer protection, space, research and innovation, development cooperation, and global connectivity.
Economic and Financial Affairs
Head of Section: Nora Hesse
The Economic and Financial Affairs section monitors and assesses U.S. macroeconomic and financial developments and policies, and liaises with U.S. authorities dealing with economic, financial, and monetary issues, as well as with relevant international financial institutions.
San Francisco Office
Head of Section: Gerard de Graaf
Opened in September 2022, the EU office in San Francisco — an integral part of the Delegation in Washington, D.C. working under the authority of the Ambassador — reinforces the EU’s cooperation with the United States on digital diplomacy and strengthens the EU’s capacity to reach out to key stakeholders, including policy makers, the business community, and civil society in the digital technology sector in the Bay Area. It is headed by Gerard de Graaf, a senior EU official, who has worked extensively on digital policies. Learn more about the office here.
Foreign Policy Instruments
Head of Section: Mario Mariani
The Foreign Policy Instruments section designs and implements actions and projects to advance European Union policy priorities in its relations with the United States.
Administration
Head of Section: Corvin Robert Vladoianu
The Administration section provides support services to the Delegation staff, building, and residences through the authorized allocation of budgetary resources. It also liaises with authorities in Europe and the United States on protocol and administrative matters related to EU officials.