Future EU-US relations: time for improved cooperation
The EU and US have an important opportunity to re-engage and work together as equal partners to strengthen the global rules-based order, say MEPs.
Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs have called for the EU and US to use new opportunities created by the election of Joe Biden and reinvigorate the essential transatlantic partnership in a report adopted on Thursday by 58 in favour, 9 against and 3 abstentions.
Over the past 70 years, a strong EU-US transatlantic cooperation has contributed to Europe’s development, prosperity and successful integration. According to the report, it is the basis for the continent’s post-WWII stability and security.
Welcoming the recommitment of the US to rules-based multilateralism, MEPs say this provides an important opportunity to re-engage with the US to strengthen, as equal partners, the global rules-based order in the spirit of shared liberal democratic values.
The report welcomes the decision of the Biden administration to re-join the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organisation, as well as the lifting of US sanctions on top officials of the International Criminal Court. MEPs call on the US to return to UNESCO.
The UN System at the centre of the rules-based international order
MEPs call for a concerted EU-US approach at the United Nations and emphasizes in this regard cooperation in clean energy and research, development and innovation as well as cooperation on other pressing issues such as non-proliferation, conflict resolution, countering violent radicalisation and terrorism.
They point to the relevance of the strategic transatlantic relationship in addressing the malign influence and disinformation campaigns of authoritarian regimes as well as the importance of coordinated position vis-à-vis Russia and China. In order to pursue shared foreign policy and security objectives and, in particular, the transatlantic commitment to standing up for international humanitarian law, MEPs express their support for enhancing transatlantic cooperation on the use of sanctions.
In matters of defence, the report supports a rebalancing of the responsibilities in the transatlantic security relationship by fostering greater self-reliance of EU member states as a way to lessen the US’s burden. This should be done in a way that creates synergies between NATO membership and EU defence capabilities.
The report urges the EU and US to work together on global tax challenges, building on the work of the OECD, including on a reform of the international corporate tax system, and it underlines reform efforts must include the elimination of tax havens.
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Rapporteur Tonio Picula (S&D, Croatia) said: “Four years of a Trump presidency fundamentally challenged the vital EU-US relationship. Now is the time to seize upon new opportunities for transatlantic cooperation, without ignoring the differences that exist. Both the EU and the US share a number of new common challenges so we need a new transatlantic agenda. One that privileges multilateral cooperation for a healthier world, the fight against climate change, reformed trade rules, the promotion of democracy, a value-based order and reform of global governance, by putting the fight against social and economic inequalities at its centre“.
Next steps
The report will now be submitted to a vote in the European Ϸվ as a whole.
Contacts:
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Snježana KOBEŠĆAK SMODIŠ
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Viktor ALMQVIST
Press Officer