A Transatlantic Date

2 novembre 2009 | Par Michael Bourguignon

A look at the new transatlantic partnership

The EU and the US will try to take their relationship to the next level in November after eight years of “friendship”. The previous US administration gave Europe the cold shoulder and Europe was spiteful. The EU’s heart throbbed again this year when a new and young administration took over the Oval office. The Obama administration seems to fit the EU’s profile well and the EU seems to be flirting heavily with the new administration.

But, is the US playing hard to get or are the two sides playing by the classical tactic of “we need to get to know each other better” ? Since last year both partners seem to at least be interested in each other. So, like two people, both sides of the Atlantic have gone through the classic early steps : the approach, the first date and the decisive second date.

Preparing the ground

The EU launched an internal diplomatic discussion on how to handle the new administration before the US elections. An informal foreign affairs meeting took place in September 2008 in Avignon between Member States and the Commission. The EU positioned Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and the Middle East Peace Process as specific key priorities. Other possible priorities were Climate Change, with the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in 2010 just around the corner, and the international economy.

Some of these issues played an important role during the US elections. For the US, the fight against the Taliban extended from Afghanistan and into Pakistan. For the EU, Iran stands as a symbol of a possible EU foreign policy success. The Union always writes the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) as a top priority in its foreign policy.

The priorities set by the EU would be difficult to digest by the public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic. Many countries in the EU acknowledge the need to commit more forces to Afghanistan, but public opinion warns against sending more troops. For the US, Iran and the Palestinian National Authority embodied evil, terrorist governments.

However, the priorities drawn up in Avignon moulded together EU interests as well as US interests. The EU knew it would be competing with other countries for a tight alliance with the new US president. The priorities therefore showed that the EU will help with US foreign policy priorities if the US is willing to integrate EU priorities. This would make the transatlantic relationship a pragmatic one.

The first date

By the end of January, Obama had picked out the main actors in his cabinet and began building his foreign policy. The main focus of the administration’s foreign policy was going to be built on global cooperation, the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, non-proliferation and an expansion of US interests towards the East. Moreover, Obama also hit the road running with the MEPP and Iran. Luckily for the EU, Obama’s foreign policy seemed to be fitting into the design drawn out in Avignon.

EU/US Summit 5/04/2009

General points in common and a good road map for the next summit

Photo : Flickr, European Commission

Under this positive atmosphere the first date between the US and the EU was held as a May summit during the Czech presidency, although not much substance was debated. Many position in Obama’s cabinet and the State department which dealt with EU-US relations had yet to be filled, or had just been approved by the US Congress. . Therefore, the meeting was more a scene of hand-shakes and introductions.

Regardless of the ongoing approval of Obama’s administration, the summit’s results underlined some general points in common between the EU and the US. They agreed to cooperate together in the areas of the G20 and the international economy, energy security and climate change, the broader middle-eastern region, and Guantanamo. These priorities outlined a good road-map for the next summit.

The second date

The EU and US now have the opportunity to deepen their commitment to each other in their second date. On 3-4th November both partners will sit at the dining table with a clearer vision of what the transatlantic partnership should focus on. They will build on the previous general common policies decided during the spring around regional security in the Middle East and climate change ahead of the Copenhagen conference. Among these priorities, the most important advance in the relationship will be in the creation of an EU-US Energy Council.

Small step after 8 dark years of relationship

Benita Ferrero-Waldner announced the creation of a EU/US Energy Council

Photo : Flickr, EP Guestphotopgrapher Alexandra Foarfa

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the current European Commissioner for foreign relations, announced last week the creation of the EU-US Energy Council. Sources inside the European institutions have explained that the initiative was spurred by the US, and especially by Richard Morningstar, former US ambassador to the EU. The US has called the Energy Council a matter of special interest as it cooperates with the EU on joint energy security initiatives. The Council will cooperate in securing energy supplies and routes, and establishing joint initiatives in developing cheaper Carbon Capture and Storage technologies that will allow us to store carbon emissions from industries underground, and energy efficient products.

The summit will attempt to forge better cooperation between both sides of the Atlantic, although some may believe the summit offers too little. An Energy Council may not be the next step people in Europe were asking for, but one must remember the context and the eight dark years of the relationship. Back then no big step was taken to deepen relations between the EU and US until 2007. In 2007 the Bush administration waved the green light for the establishment of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). The TEC was set up to help set up regulations and deepen the transatlantic market. Today, only ten months after the official swearing in of Obama, both partners have designed an Energy Council to tackle energy security, an issue close to voters’ hearts.

A pragmatic start

The EU received a cold shoulder from the US during the early 2000’s. Today, the EU and the US have started their new relationship slowly, but surely. The steady pace has allowed both partners to find out more about each other. Now it seems that they have substance to hold hands and move forward together.

The US is not playing hard to get, but rather taking it slow. Both have learnt that you need not jump into a relationship too soon, but rather judge by words rather than looks. Their second date looks to be a start of a good partnership.

Logo : Flickr, European Commission

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