Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
The European Union has invested $24.9 billion in Colorado. That investment, according to data from the European Commission, has supported tens of thousands of jobs across the state and promoted trade between Colorado and the EU, a relationship that the European Union’s ambassador to the United States aimed to continue strengthening when she visited Boulder on Tuesday. “The relations are very close and very diverse with Colorado, and I think that’s important to continue,” EU Ambassador to the U.S. Jovita Neliupšienė told the Daily Camera. “And this is my message. Let’s work together to strengthen those relations.” Neliupšienė visited Boulder for the first time on Tuesday to speak during an event at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she told the story of the EU, its history and answered questions about policy and politics. She also met with Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett to discuss the city’s involvement in the EU Cities Gateway program, which will bring cities in the U.S., Canada and the EU together to share practical experience and learn from one another about how to better run cities and improve the lives of the people who live in those cities. The project is in its early stages. “I’m really, really glad that Boulder decided to join the project,” Neliupšienė said. Neliupšienė decided to come to Boulder after she was invited to speak by a professor. On Monday, she also visited the University of Wyoming for a similar speaking engagement. Boulder has a strong connection with the EU through its CU Boulder international students and its strength in science and research, Neliupšienė said. The more than $24 billion the EU has invested in Colorado has created thousands of jobs, and there are many local trade and economic opportunities. Some European companies are also based in Colorado. “With Colorado, we trade a lot. It’s close to a billion a year,” Neliupšienė said. She hopes that the U.S. and EU trade deal, which was made official in August and caps tariffs at 15% for most EU exports, will provide some predictability and stability. The EU is generally not a fan of tariffs, she said, and at least part of the cost of the tariffs will probably be passed to the consumer. “I think that it’s important for any community, Boulder and other communities in Colorado, to actually make sure that we have less friction and less problems in the trade and economic relations flows,” Neliupšienė said. She also answered questions from CU Boulder students about how the EU is working with Trump and his policies, and how the EU might respond to ICE raids across the country. “The European Union is built on the values of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and we will continue to champion them,” Neliupšienė said. “Everyone can actually contribute a bit by being active, going to study, doing their job on a daily basis and speaking up.” Neliupšienė became the ambassador of the EU to the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2024. Before that, she held several positions for her home country, Lithuania, including vice minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania and vice minister of economy and innovation of Lithuania.
