Is the Atlantic Growing Wider? The Future of the U.S.-European Partnership

AmerikaHaus NRW e.V., Europe Direct Dortmund, Auslandsgesellschaft.de and the City of Dortmund cordially invite to our anual townhall discussion on 06.11.2025 at 6pm. The event will take place in the Kronenburgforum of K2 Bürocenter (Kronenburgallee 2, 44141 Dortmund). Two former Members of the United States Congress – Michael Capuano (DEM) and Fred Upton (REP) – are going to discuss about The Future of the U.S.-European Partnership.

The speed and scope of changes wrought by the Trump Administration, with support from Republican majorities in Congress, since the 2024 elections have been immense. Hear from a bipartisan duo of longtime Members of Congress how they evaluate major developments in U.S. domestic politics and which path forward they see for the transatlantic relationship.

Congressman Mike Capuano is an attorney who served in the U.S. Congress from 1999 to 2019, representing first the 8th and later the 7th District of Massachusetts. He served on the Financial Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and chaired several subcommittees. In 2007, Mike authored the bill that created the Office of Congressional Ethics. He founded the Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan and the Community Health Center Caucus. Prior to Congress, Mike served nine years as the mayor of his hometown, Somerville, MA, where he enacted environmental reforms, reduced crime, lowered class sizes, instituted an affirmative action plan, and appointed women to lead more than half the city’s departments. Mike currently works at the law firm Venable LLP. He is also a Presidential appointee to the Public Buildings Reform Board. Mike graduated from Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School. He met his wife, Barbara, at Somerville High. They have two adult sons.

Congressman Fred Upton was proud to represent the common-sense values of Southwest Michigan’s 6th Congressional District for 36 years. From 2010 to 2016, he was selected by his House colleagues to serve as Chairman of the pivotal Committee on Energy and Commerce. Fred strongly supports an ‘All-of-the-Above’ energy strategy that focuses on American energy development, emerging clean energy technologies, and traditional energy. He has long been an advocate for a greater emphasis on biomedical research to improve public health and, in 2014, launched the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative. As an active member of the Great Lakes Task Force, Fred has an extensive, bipartisan record working to protect the Great Lakes, which has earned him a local and national reputation. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Fred holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Amey, have two adult children.

The discussion will be moderated by Rika Althoff. She is a PhD candidate and research associate at TU Dortmund University’s Department for Philosophy and Political Science. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Literary and Cultural Studies with minors in Political Science and History as well as a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Political Science. In her research, she focuses on questions at the intersection of environmental, peace, and security concerns – bridging political theory into peace and conflict studies with interdisciplinary angles. Teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, she regularly focuses on topics surrounding the European Union in the 21st century, international relations, and international organizations.

This event will be held in English. Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use. Pleaser register here.

We cordially thank AmericaHaus NRW e.V. for hosting the event and are delighted to have been part of it together with our partners: the City of Dortmund, the Auslandsgesellschaft.de and the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.