The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Elmar BROK (EPP, DE) on the state of EU-US relations.
An overarching framework based on shared values: Members emphasised that the EU-US relationship is the fundamental guarantor for global stability and has been the cornerstone of efforts to ensure peace and stability since the end of the Second World War, as well as the building-up of a multilateral trade system based on rules and values. They believed that the current one-sided ‘America first’ policy harms the interests of both the EU and the US, undermines mutual trust and may also have wider implications for global stability.
The committee stated that it was concerned at the approaches taken by the US towards addressing global issues and regional conflicts since the election of President Trump, and sought clarity as to whether the transatlantic relationship still has the same relevance for the EU’s American partners. It underlined that the issues that bring the US and the EU together should ultimately carry greater weight than what divides them. Members stated that Europe has a responsibility to build up its strategic autonomy to face the growing number of common challenges, and emphasized the need for European countries to retain their ability to decide and act alone to defend their interests.
Strengthening the partnership: the report called for the fostering of dialogue on all elements of this partnership, including with civil society organisations. It urged the US administration to uphold the shared core values that are at the foundation of transatlantic relations, and to ensure, in all circumstances, respect for international law. The VP/HR, the Council, the Commission and Member States were called upon to enhance cooperation and effectiveness in EU policy towards the US, so as to present the EU as a unified and effective international player with a coherent message. Members were deeply disturbed by the statements by officials of the Trump administration expressing contempt for the EU and support for xenophobic and populist forces aiming at the destruction of the European project, viewing such statements as hostile to the spirit of the transatlantic partnership.
Facing global challenges together: Members insisted that the EU and the US should continue to play constructive roles by jointly addressing regional conflicts and global challenges based on the principles of international law. They felt that multilateralism, which has maintained peace and stability, is increasingly called in question by the attitudes of the US and other world powers. Members were concerned that recent unilateral decisions of the US – disengagement from key international agreements, revoking of certain commitments, undermining international rules, withdrawal from international forums and the fomenting of diplomatic and trade tensions – may diverge from these common values and put strain on the relationship with the EU. The latter should show unity, firmness and proportionality in its responses and Member States must avoid any action aimed at gaining bilateral advantages to the detriment of a coherent common European approach. Members also noted that Russia and China have robust political and economic strategies, many of which may go against the transatlantic partnership. In this respect, the committee called for increased EU-US coordination with respect to Russia, recalling the clear danger to democracies posed by fake news, and disinformation.
Members went on to discuss:
- the importance of NATO, welcoming the fact that defence is becoming a higher priority area for the EU and its Member States, and welcomed in this context the presence of US troops on EU territory.
- the need for the EU and the US to enhance their cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and cyber defence, namely through specialised agencies;
- the need for a common approach to regulating digital platforms and to increasing their accountability in order to discuss the issues of net censorship, copyright and rights of the rightholders, personal data and the notion of net neutrality;
The committee went on to note that the EU is determined to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, which the EU is determined to do its utmost to preserve, underlining that, according to the multiple reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is fulfilling its commitments under the JCPOA. It strongly criticised strongly President Trump's decision to leave the JCPOA unilaterally and to impose extraterritorial measures on EU companies that are active in Iran. It called on the EU to take any further measures deemed necessary to safeguard the JCPOA.
With respect to the Syria, Members called for enhanced cooperation between the EU and the US for the peaceful resolution of the proxy war and reaffirmed the primacy of the UN-led Geneva process in the resolution of the Syrian conflict.
With respect to the Middle East peace process, Members deeply regretted the unilateral decision of the US government to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to formally recognise the city as Israel's capital, since the question of Jerusalem must be part of a final peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
Defending a rules-based trading order: Members noted that the US decision to impose steel and aluminium tariffs cannot be justified on the grounds of national security, and called on the US to grant the EU and other allies a full and permanent exemption from the measures. The Commission was asked to respond firmly should these tariffs be used as a way to curb EU exports.
Lastly, Members stressed the role of the WTO in settling trade-related disputes and regretted the United States’ blocking of new nominations to fill the vacancies the Appellate Body, which threatens the very functioning of the WTO dispute settlement system.