Aspen Ideas «Digital Europe and Transatlantic Challenges» with Rita Faden and Fidel Sendagorta
Aspen Institute España, in collaboration with Google, held a session last May, 20, 2021 on “Digital Europe and Transatlantic Challenges” with Ms. Rita Faden, President of the Executive Council at the Luso American Development Foundation and M. Fidel Sendagorta, Spanish Diplomat and author of “The Long game: US, China and Europe”. The debate was moderated by M. José M. de Areilza, Secretary General of Aspen Institute España.
The session, which took place in English and was held under the Chatham House Rule, brought together a group of approximately 25 participants from both Spain and Portugal, from different sectors of civil society, providing a neutral forum in which to reflect and discuss the European Digital Sovereignty and its implications.
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Biographies
Rita Faden, President of the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) since January 2019. FLAD is dedicated to promote the development of Portugal through a close cooperation with the US, focusing in Science, Education, Culture and Transatlantic Relations. With vast experience in representing Portugal, Rita has expertise in international negotiations within the framework of the European Union and the United Nations. Rita Faden has had a long career in the Portuguese Public Administration in the areas of foreign affairs, european affairs, justice, security and defense. She held several leadership positions, namely as Director-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Ministry of Justice and in the Ministry of Home Affairs. She was a member of the Directive Council of the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property. She was Chief of Staff to the Portuguese Prime-Minister between 2015 and 2018. Rita Faden has a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon Law School and holds a postgraduate degree in European Studies from Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portuguese Catholic University).
Fidel Sendagorta was Director General for North America, Asia and the Pacific at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2018. In 2014, he was Secretary General of the Spain-US Council. He was Ambassador to Egypt from October 2010 to May 2014. Previously, he was Director General for the Mediterranean, Maghreb and the Middle East (2008-2011), Ambassador at large for Mediterranean Affairs (2007-2008) and Director of the Office for Analysis at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was the Rafael del Pino-MAEC Fellow with the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship from September 2018-June 2019. A diplomat since 1984, he has served in several diplomatic posts at the Embassies of Spain in Tokyo, Havana and Rabat, as well as at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union in Brussels. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he also was Advisor to the Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Latin America from 1991 to 1993 and was Deputy Director General at the Minister´s Office from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Sendagorta holds a Law Degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and a Diploma on International Studies from the Diplomatic School of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2003 to 2008 he lectured at the Diplomatic School and published the essay “Europe at the twilight: decline or revival?” (Biblioteca Nueva, Madrid 2007). In addition, he is a member of the Scientific Council of the Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies.
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