Obama one year later: an evaluation of transatlantic relations at the eve of the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony

When on November 4, 2008, the U.S. voters elected Obama to become their 44th president, the enthusiasm in Europe was great. After eight years of Bush administration, Europe was longing for a change, a new partnership and expected fundamental change in the U.S. foreign policy Not every European shared that optimism. Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer predicted that Europeans were likely to be disappointed in their hopes for a fundamental change in U.S. foreign policy, that “it would take a medium-sized political miracle for these hopes not to be disappointed, and such a miracle will not happen – whoever is elected.” (Project Syndicate) At the eve of the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony during which award winner Barack Obama will be the celebrated focus of attention, an American living in Europe, a European living in the USA and a Member of the European Parliament will discuss whether the “medium-sized political miracle” has happened, what has changed in transatlantic relations during the last twelve months and what the expectations are for the next four years of Obama’s presidency.