The future of EU-US relations is the most important geostrategic priority of the decade

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament reconfirms its support for strong EU-US transatlantic cooperation, partnership and friendship, which are built on our common values.

During today’s plenary debate on a report on the future of EU-US relations, Renew Europe called for a new transatlantic agenda that pursues common interests and promotes multilateral cooperation for a more equitable and healthier world, the digital transition, the fight against climate change and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Our political group stresses that the transatlantic alliance remains fundamental for the security and the stability of the European continent, as NATO is the foundation of Europe’s collective defence and is a key pillar of European security. We call for closer foreign policy coordination on all relevant files. Among others, we welcome the recent relaunch of a comprehensive EU-US high-level strategic dialogue on China and we call for more coordination and an enhanced EU-US partnership on the Indo-Pacific region. We need a common plan of engagement with Russia and a renewed partnership in relation to countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans.

But to achieve this, we need to build a strong and united Europe, who can share the burden and who is capable to act when needed to protect its strategic interests, especially in areas where US interest is waning.

Renew Europe Group MEP, Dragoș Tudorache (USRPLUS, Romania), member of the Delegation for relations with the United States and shadow rapporteur on the future of EU-US relations, said:

“Strengthening and growing the relationship between the EU and the US is the most important geostrategic priority of the decade. A global pandemic just ravaged the world; we see a sharp rise in authoritarianism fuelled by fake news, fake science, propaganda and disinformation; China continues to assert itself in a quest to remake the rules of the international system in its own image; and the transition to a digital economy and society brings with it novel threats and empowers various actors to challenge our security and our democracy. The way we work with the U.S. will determine if the future of the world will be democratic and defined by our shared values or if it will be shaped by alternative visions of governance.”

“One important point the report focuses on is cooperation on digital issues. The technological partnership between the EU and the US, based on shared democratic values, is the most solid foundation of the transatlantic future. I salute the operationalisation of the Trade and Technology Council, its first meeting in Pittsburgh, and the commitments outlined in the Inaugural Joint Statement. I would like to see the TTC, now operational, also complemented by a parliamentary dimension, in which the European Parliament and Congress engage in structured work for regulatory convergence, and by an investment dimension, in which the EU and US commit resources to moonshot projects and R&D in frontier technologies. I am happy the report touches on all these dimensions.”

ENDS