Transatlantic Relations: The U.S.-EU Partnership

One of the original Marshall Plan posters. Courtesy of the Marshall FoundationU.S. cooperation with the EU is based on the Transatlantic Declaration of 1990 and the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA), adopted in 1995. This cooperation, which has been gradually deepened and broadened, takes place on many levels and includes summit meetings at the level of heads of state and government between the U.S., the European Commission and the country holding the EU Presidency.

Establishing Diplomatic Relations
 Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the European Community were initiated in 1953 when the first U.S. observers were sent to the European Coal and Steel Community. The U.S. Mission to the ECSC formally opened in Luxembourg in 1956. The Delegation of the European Commission to the United States in Washington, D.C. was established in 1954, and the United States Mission to the European Communities, now the United States Mission to the European Union, was established in 1961 in Brussels. In Brussels on November 25, 2003, and on May 6, 2004, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. and the EU celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties.

Formalized Cooperation
In 1990, the relations of the U.S. with the European Community were formalized by the adoption of the Transatlantic Declaration. A regular political dialogue between the U.S. and the EC was thereby initiated at various levels, including regular summit meetings. The cooperation focused on the areas of economy, education, science and culture

The New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA), which was launched at the Madrid summit in 1995, carried the cooperation forward. The NTA contains four broad objectives for U.S.-EU collaboration: promoting peace and stability, democracy and development around the world; responding to global challenges; contributing to the expansion of world trade and closer economic relations; and building bridges Across the Atlantic.

In connection with the adoption of the New Transatlantic Agenda a Joint EU-U.S. Action Plan was drawn up committing the EU and the U.S. to a large number of measures within the overall areas of cooperation. As an extension of the NTA efforts, agreement was reached at the 1998 London summit to intensify cooperation in the area of trade, which resulted in the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP). The TEP covers both bilateral and multilateral trade. Bilaterally, TEP addresses various types of obstacles to trade and strives to establish agreements on mutual recognition in the areas of goods and services. Furthermore, there is cooperation in the areas of public procurement and intellectual property law. Multilaterally, focus is on further liberalization of trade within the WTO in order to strengthen world trade. The interests of the business sector, the environment and the consumers are to be integrated into this work.

In building bridges across the Atlantic, a number of people-to-people dialogues have been set up. The goal is to enable individual actors to give their opinion. In connection with each summit meeting time is set aside for meetings with representatives of one or more of these dialogues, which include the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD); the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD); the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN), a non-governmental grouping of members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament, business leaders and think tanks; the Transatlantic Environmental Dialogue (TAED); and the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue (TALD).

President Barack Obama, second from center, talks to Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, second from left, during the U.S.-EU Summmit at the White House with European High Council High Representative Javier Solana, left, and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, second from right, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)Once a year, a summit meeting is held between the U.S. President, the Head of Government of the country holding the EU Presidency, and the President of the European Commission. Within the framework of the summit meeting, and also in separate ministerials during each council presidency, the U.S. Secretaries of State and Commerce meet the foreign and trade Ministers of the country holding the EU Presidency, together with the EU Commissioners for foreign affairs and trade. The High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy also participates in these talks.

2010: Ambassador Kennard on "Mapping the Future of the EU-U.S. Strategic Partnership" (Jan 25, 2010)

President Obama congratulated Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy on his election as President of the European Council, and Baroness Catherine Ashton on her election as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the White House said in a November 19 statement. "The United States has no stronger partner than Europe in advancing security and prosperity around the world. These two new positions, and related changes to take effect on December 1 as a result of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, will strengthen the EU and enable it to be an even stronger partner to the United States. Secretary Clinton called the decisions a "milestone for Europe and for its role in the world...We are working together as partners to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the 21st century. With the appointment of these distinguished leaders, I am more confident than ever that together we can build a more peaceful and prosperous world." U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, who worked with Ashton as European Trade Commissioner, said  he was "pleased that European leaders have seen fit to place her in a position from which she will be able to continue promoting the strong transatlantic relationship that remains an essential pillar of international peace and prosperity. This is good news both for Europe and for the United States.” (Full text of statements)

Secretary Clinton and European Parliament President open the town hall meeting with European youth at the EP, Brussels, March 6, 2009. Photo: Marijke Hendrickx

By early April -- just 10 weeks after the Obama administration took office --  two of the most senior U.S. officials had been in Europe for talks with European Union and NATO leaders. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Brussels March 5-6 for meetings with EU officials and for her first NATO foreign ministers informal meeting. On Friday morning, she held a “Town Hall” discussion at the European Parliament with hundreds of young Europeans entitled “The Next Generation Takes the Floor.”

Vice President Joe Biden (left) meets High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana in Brussels on March 10, 2009. Photo: Marijke HendrickxVice President Biden was in Brussels on March 10 for NATO consultations and EU meetings. A working lunch, hosted by EU High Representative Solana, included senior European Union officials, including Alexandr Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for European Affairs of the Czech Republic; Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg; Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner; Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt; and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

2009: Gordon: U.S. Welcomes Europe’s Lisbon Treaty (Remarks on The Lisbon Treaty: Implications for Future Relations Between the EU and the U.S. (Dec 15, 2009) | U.S.'s Gordon on the U.S.-Europe Partnership Under the Obama Administration (Dec 9, 2009) | Treasury's Sobel Addresses the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (Dec 5, 2009) | Obama, Clinton, Kirk Congratulate EU on New Leadership Decisions (Nov 19, 2009) | Remarks by Secretary Clinton, German Foreign Minister Westerwelle (Nov 9, 2009) | Remarks by President Obama, Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt (Nov 2, 2009) | U.S.'s Gordon on "A New Era for Transatlantic Cooperation" (Sep 30, 2009) | Clinton's Remarks With European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner (Jul 10, 2009) | Assistant Secretary Gordon: Success on Global Challenges Requires Strong U.S.-European Ties (Jun 17, 2009) (Statement) | U.S. Ambassador Daalder’s Speech on NATO’s Agenda in 21st Century (Jun 9, 2009) | President Obama in Europe (Apr 1-6, 2009) | Vice President Biden Meets EU, NATO, and ISAF Country Officials (Mar 10, 2009) | Secretary Clinton Holds Brussels 'Town Hall' Meeting with Young Europeans (Mar 5-6, 2009) | Remarks by Clinton, Czech Republic Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg (Feb 10, 2009) | Clinton, European Partners Set Common Agenda (Feb 4, 2009) | Chargé Murray Participates in EP Hearing on U.S.-EU Relations Under Obama Presidency (Jan 29, 2009)

GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION

European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs opens the first exhibit of U.S. art in the Commission's Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels. To his right are U.S. Mission to the EU Charge d'Affaires Larry Wohlers, U.S. Cultural Affairs Officer and exhibit organizer Ryan Ballow, and American sculptor John Antone, who is currently working and teaching in Croatia and Slovenia. Photo: Jeannine Johnson Maia

European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs opens the first exhibit of U.S. art in the Commission's Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels in July 2008. To his right are U.S. Mission to the EU Charge d'Affaires Larry Wohlers, U.S. Cultural Affairs Officer and exhibit organizer Ryan Ballow, and American sculptor John Antone, who is currently working and teaching in Croatia and Slovenia. The exhibit was sponsored by the U.S. Mission the European Union.

2008: State’s Kurt Volker’s Remarks on U.S., European Challenges (May 6, 2008) | Under Secretary Burns Discusses U.S.-European Ties in Interview (Feb 12, 2008)

2007: U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nuland Urges EU, NATO to Work Together (Oct 16, 2007) | Marshall Plan 60th Anniversary (June 5, 2007) | Under Secretary Burns Elaborates on Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Transatlantic Community (Mar 26, 2007) | U.S. Senate and House Congratulate EU on 50th Anniversary (Mar 26, 2007) | U.S. Commemorates 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaties (Mar 26, 2007) | President Bush Meets European Commission President Barroso & German Chancellor Merkel (Jan 2007)

2006: Senior Diplomat Previews U.S.-Europe Relations for 2007 (Dec 15, 2006) | Report: EU-U.S. Cooperation Program in Higher and Vocational Education and Training (Oct 20, 2005)

2005: United States Wants Strong European Union as Partner, Bush Says (Jun 20, 2005) | Under Secretary of State Burns Outlines Trans-Atlantic Agenda (Apr 8, 2005) | Bush Calls for New Era in Transatlantic Unity To Advance Peace (Feb 22, 2005) | U.S., Europe Have Unity of Purpose and Message, Rice Says (Feb 9, 2005)

2000: Albright, Riley, Vedrine, and Patten at Signing Ceremony of U.S.-EU Higher Education Agreement (Dec 18, 2000) | Renewal of U.S.-EC Higher Education, Vocational Education, and Training Agreement (Dec 18, 2000)