Europe and the United States of America have a shared history that ties them together in a unique way.

Even before it became an independent nation the USA depended on settlers from European nations to populate, farm and mine its vast, open lands.

The first wave of immigrants, during the 17th and through to the early 19th centuries, mainly came from Germany, France, Poland, Holland and the British Isles and were relatively small in numbers.

However, during the 1800s mass immigration brought in millions more Europeans who arrived in from other countries too including Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Ireland.

Many of the Irish who came to the USA during this period were fleeing the Great Famine of 1845-52 but immigration from this country was already in full flow even before that infamous humanitarian disaster.

In fact by 1850, it’s estimated that the Irish made up a quarter of the populations of a number of US cities including Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

In 2009 almost 37 million Americans - just over 12 per cent of the US population - declared Irish ancestry in an American Community Survey conducted by the US Census Bureau.

And eight Irish Americans – three born on this island - signed the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776 while 22 American Presidents, from Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama, have claimed at least some Irish roots.

Europe and the USA are bonded by the blood of our ancestors, and the relationship was cemented further during the 20th century’s two devastating world wars.

Millions of American soldiers were killed and injured during the wars, many on European soil fighting to bring peace between the continent’s warring nations.

After World War II the US fully supported the development of what eventually became the European Union, which was originally created to put an end to the frequent, bloody wars between Europe’s neighbouring countries once and for all.

Relations between the EU and the USA have been enriched through a number of official agreements that cover a wide range of issues from trade, security and transport to education and development cooperation to help the world’s poorer nations.

The first major formal agreement was reached in 1990 with the adoption of the Transatlantic Declaration , a document setting out principles for greater cooperation and consultation.

The declaration established regular summits and ministerial meetings where politicians and high ranking civil servants could hammer out common positions on issues of importance to both Europe and the US.

In 1995 new agreements were reached through the New Transatlantic Agenda and the EU-USA Joint Action Plan, which provided frameworks for responding to global problems.

The EU-US Summit of May 1997 brought about another deal, this time in Custom Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters. The EU signs this type of custom agreement with other countries to help control trade flows and fight against fraud and illegal activities.

Yet another important milestone came in 1998 when the EU-USA Summit of that year adopted the Transatlantic Economic Partnership, marking the beginning of negotiations to remove tariff barriers on certain areas of trade, including services and intellectual property.

The partnership agreement was further strengthened by the Bonn Declaration adopted in 1999, in which both sides committed themselves to a full and equal partnership in economic, political and security affairs.

In 2001 the EU was quick to show its support for the USA following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. A meeting of the European Council held less than two weeks after the devastating events declared solidarity with the American people and produced an action plan to help combat global terrorism.

Under its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) the EU can only launch civilian and military missions to ensure peace and security in troubled regions so individual member states had to decide for themselves on whether to support the US when it decided to invade Afghanistan a month after 9/11.

The US decision to invade Iraq in 2003 was not supported by all member states, with some strongly opposing the decision. EU-US relations were strained but a bilateral summit convened in Ireland on June 26, 2004, adopted a joint statement securing EU assistance to the new Iraqi government.

As the world plunged into global recession in 2007, the Transatlantic Economic Council was created in an effort to boost economic growth. The council is co-chaired by EU and US officials and it’s responsible for suggesting common regulations in various industries.

While the EU and USA cooperate in several important areas they don’t always agree on everything. Divisions have arisen over issues like the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison camp, genetically modified food, the war in Iraq and the USA’s failure to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

However, there’s determination on both sides of the Atlantic to overcome differences and work together to make the world a better place for all citizens.

• On Justice

It’s in everybody’s interest that the EU and the USA cooperate on issues of global concern. And one of the major concerns for European and US citizens is the fight against drugs, crime and terrorism.

Finding ways to increase border protection and improve cooperation between police forces are discussed at regular high-level meetings between EU and US justice officials.

Agreements have been reached on the extradition of crime and terror suspects, the tracking of terrorist finances and the transfer of passenger name records to better protect citizens on both side of the Atlantic.

• On Energy Security

Ensuring reliable supplies of reasonably priced energy while at the same time meeting global environmental challenges are at the top of the political agenda in both the EU and the US.

In 2005 the EU and the US agreed to develop a strategic cooperation on energy, which contributes to a greater security of supply and business opportunities in green energy.

At an EU-US summit in 2007 summit a Joint Statement on Energy Efficiency, Security and Climate Change was issued, which signalled a commitment from both sides to link energy policy with combating climate change.

The EU-US Energy Council, which was launched in 2009, has three permanent working groups on security, technology and developing energy policies that support both job creation and the battle against climate change.

• On Environment

The EU and the USA have had their differences when it comes to environmental protection, but regular bilateral contacts on environmental issues are maintained in order to promote a better understanding of each other’s policies and laws.

High level dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development was established at the 2006 EU-US Summit in Vienna and both sides agreed at the 2010 Summit to continue to promote actions aimed at reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The EU and the US have also shown their commitment to developing a post-2012 agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. EU and US policies are now converging in support of energy security, clean and efficient technologies and green jobs.

• On Science and Technology

The EU-US Science and Technology Agreement entered into force in 1998 and it was renewed in 2004 and extended for the period 2008-2013.

The agreement provides a broad framework for collaboration in research and development and is designed to compliment bilateral arrangements between the US and individual member states as well as individual scientists.

The EU has its own research programmes and the current Seventh Framework Programme, or FP7, boasts around 250 instances of US participation that further strengthens EU-US scientific links.

In 2009 the EU-US Energy Council Working Group on Technology, Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) was established. It aims to accelerate the research and development of clean energy supply and energy efficiency technologies.

• On Education and Training

The EU–US Higher Education and Training Agreement was launched at the same time as the New Transatlantic Agenda in 1995 and it’s served to strengthen links between young people in Europe and the USA.

The agreement was renewed in 2006 for an eight year period and it aims to encourage cooperation between EU and US educational institutions, in particular through joint study programmes such as Atlantis and the Schuman-Fulbright fellowship scheme.

Educational links between the EU and the USA are also maintained through Erasmus Mundus. This programme supports the establishment of European Masters courses and supports the establishment of partnerships and exchanges with higher education institutions outside the EU.

• On Transport and Aviation

The EU-US Open Skies Agreement provides market access for air services between all 27 Member States and the US. It came into force in March 2008 and two years later was further improved in a second stage agreement signed in 2010.

Passenger safety has also been improved through the Aviation Safety Agreement, which provides better airline safety systems on both sides of the Atlantic.

• On Development Cooperation

The EU and the US have agreed three common priorities in development cooperation: food security and agricultural development, climate change and the Millennium Development Goals.

Roadmaps for cooperation in these areas were laid out at the inaugural meeting of the ministerial EU-US High Level Consultative Group on Development in April 2010.

At the EU-US Summit in Lisbon in December 2010, both sides reiterated their commitment to the Doha Development Agenda, which is specifically targeted at addressing the needs of developing countries through fair trade deals.

• On Nuclear Disarmament

The EU and the US share a joint Declaration on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament of nuclear arms. Both sides are committed to jointly helping to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons.

They’ve also called for Iran and North Korea to fulfil their international nuclear obligations and at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington during April 2010, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen nuclear security and its support for all international efforts aimed at achieving this goal.