The Paul-Henri Spaak Lecture series was established in 1981 thanks to the generosity of Frank Boas and the Frank Boas Foundation. The series brought European leaders to Harvard to speak on issues of importance to the United States and Europe. Suspended in 1999, the lecture series was relaunched in 2008 thanks to the support of the Nicolas Janssen Family Fund of Brussels. This occurred as the Weatherhead Center inaugurated the Program on Transatlantic Relations, with the generous support of Pierre Keller of Geneva, in order to strengthen research and teaching on Europe and transatlantic issues in the University.
Visit the WCFIA Vimeo Channel to view videos from the Paul-Henri Spaak Lecture series and more. All Spaak Lecture videos can be found in its Vimeo Album.
The following Paul-Henri Spaak Lectures have been delivered since 1981:
Nineteenth: September 27, 2010
"The European Union Facing Global Challenges"
Baroness Catherine Ashton
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union
Audio: Listen (mp3)
Eighteenth: September 24, 2008
"A Letter from Brussels to the Next President of the United States”
José Manuel Barroso
European Commission President
Transcript: HTML
Seventeenth: November 4, 1999
“Europe and the Balkans: The Role of Greece”
George Papandreou
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic
Sixteenth: October 16, 1997
“The New Europe: How to Overcome 40 Years of Division”
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Fifteenth: October 2, 1996
“From Europe to EUrope: A Story of Hope, Trial and Error”
Ralf Dahrendorf
Warden, St. Antony’s College, Oxford University
Fourteenth: October 16, 1995
“The Global Challenge: Opportunities and Choices in the Multilateral Trading System”
Renato Ruggiero
Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Thirteenth: October 13, 1994
“The Disappointing Partnership Between British Governments and Europe: Why the Paul-Henri Spaak Tradition Rarely Embraces London”
Lord Roy Jenkins
Chancellor of Oxford University, and leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords
Twelfth: April 1992
“The Atlantic Alliance: New Roles in a Changing World”
Manfred Wörner
Secretary General of NATO
Eleventh: May 15, 1990
“The New Czechoslovakian Foreign Policy”
Jiri Dienstbier
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia
Tenth: April 25, 1990
“Europe at the Crossroads”
Frans Andriessen
Vice President of the European Commission
Ninth: April 12, 1989
“Facing the Challenges of the Nineties: The Future of the European Community”
Raymond Barre
Member of the National Assembly of France; former Prime Minister of France
Eighth: April 28, 1988
“Continuity and Change in U.S.-Europe Relations”
Felipe González
Prime Minister of Spain
Seventh: May 4, 1987
“The European Monetary System: A Model for a More Stable International Monetary Order?”
Karl Otto Pöhl
Member of the Monetary Committee of the European Community
Sixth: November 19, 1985
“40 Years On: The Nature of United States Power and European Influence”
Michael Palliser
Chair of the Board of Montagu and Company
Fifth: November 8, 1984
“A New Code for International Cooperation”
Lamberto Dini
Director General of the Bank of Italy
Fourth: November 1, 1983
“U.S.-European Relations: Defense Policy and Euromissles”
Pieter Dankert
President of the European Parliament
Third: April 28, 1983
“Europe and the United States: Relations on the Threshold?”
Viscount Etienne Davignon
Vice President of the European Community
Second: May 4, 1982
“Europe: Decline or Renewal?”
Jean François-Poncet
Minister of Foreign Affairs of France
First: April 8, 1981
“The U.S. and Europe: Partners at Last?”
Fernand Spaak
Chief of Staff of the President of the European Commission