International Issues

Bilateral relations - USA

Basis for Co-operation

The 1974 Exchange of Letters on the Environment between the European Commission and the Government of the United States established a bilateral framework for co-operation on environmental matters. The Letters also provided for a framework (annual high-level consultations) to co-ordinate and to review co-operation. These high-level consultations are co-chaired by the Director General for the Environment at the European Commission and the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the State Department. Over the years, the high-level consultations provided an effective regular forum in which to exchange information and discuss prospects for co-operation. The last consultations took place in Brussels on 10 May 2000.

The adoption of the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA) and its Joint Action Plan in 1995 opened up further possibilities for dialogue by expanding EU-US co-operation to the full range of political and economic issues. The NTA and Action Plan provide a framework for co-operation across a wide range of activities under four broad chapters: 1) promoting peace and stability, democracy, and development around the world; 2) responding to global challenges (including preservation of the environment; 3) contributing to the expansion of world trade and fostering closer ties; and 4) building bridges across the Atlantic. Building bridges between different communities on either side of the Atlantic led to a number of Dialogues being launched including the Transatlantic Environment Dialogue (TAED started in 1999). The TAED played a short but useful role in bringing the NGO communities together. The TAED ceased to exist in 2001.

The EU and US launched the Transatlantic Economic Partnership in May 1998. Otherwise known as the TEP, this "partnership" lays the foundations to enable the EU and US to intensify their efforts to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade and investment between them.

The EU-US Summit in June 2004 adopted a joint declaration on strengthening the bilateral economic partnership. By doing this the EU and US resolved to give a renewed impetus to their transatlantic trade and investment relations. Leaders agreed to look at new ways to make the transatlantic economic relationship stronger and called for innovative proposals to further develop the transatlantic market in the 21st century. For further information see: /external_relations/us/consultation/index.htm

The EU and the US are the two largest economies in the world maintaining the biggest bilateral trading and investment relationship. Transatlantic flows of trade and investment amount to around $1 billion a day, and jointly they account for almost 40 % of world trade. For further information on the EU-US bilateral trade relations see here

EU -US Approaches to Environment

The European Union is at the forefront of international efforts to deal with global environmental concerns convinced that major challenges such as Climate Change have to be tackled through the multilateral process. Climate Change is one of the greatest environmental and economic threats facing the planet and the EU's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol was once again reaffirmed on 31 May 2002 when the EU and its Member States ratified the Protocol. The US decided to withdraw from Kyoto in March 2001.

One positive outcome of the EU-US Summit in June 2001 was the recognition of the need to promote effective ways to address Climate Change. An agreement was thus reached to establish a mechanism for dialogue. The first meeting of the EU-US High-Level Representatives on Climate Change convened on 23 April 2002.

For details of the Joint Statement issued on the occasion of the first High-Level Representatives meeting on Climate Change please see: http://www.eurunion.org/news/press/2002/2002022.htm 

Joint EU and US leadership has successfully faced many challenges in the past. Climate Change is one pressing issue that requires joint commitment and leadership. The US has been requested to join the EU and other players in shaping a future international agreement for the post Kyoto period after 2012.