The evolution of EU-American relationships: From obedience to independence?

Résumé du document

The EU-US relations were the basis upon which global institutions were built at the end of World War II, they permitted the creation of the United Nations, of the World Trade Organization, and of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation... they forged the framework still used to regulate international relations. The US has developed diplomatic relations with Europe ever since 1953, and then it established a formal delegation to the European Communities in 1961 while a European mission was in Washington to represent it in its dealing with the US government since 1954. Founded on a strong common history, US-EU relations embodied stability and mutual assistance during the Cold War, but they appear today in jeopardy. Changes of condition in the transatlantic relationship have been a recurrent point of focus for the media over the last few years.

Extraits

[...] The evolution of EU-American relationships: From obedience to independence? relationship between the United States and Europe constitutes the world's strongest, most comprehensive and strategically most important partnership.” European Commission President Barroso, Brussels February 2005. Introduction I. From the obedience of the Cold War to the crisis of the Iraq War A. Europe as the fighting field for the two superpowers B. The end of the bilateral war logic loosens EU-US links C. Opposition and crisis in the new era of terrorism II. [...]

[...] The end of the bilateral era was also the end of a special kind of EU-US relationship, which needs to readjust itself now, but that isn't well defined yet. Opposition and crisis in the new era of terrorism The end of the Cold War closed an era and the world entered a period in which nuclear weapons and total annihilation aren't realistic fears anymore. Terrorism is a new kind of threat demanding a totally revised policy of defence; it can't be defeated by biggest army in the world. [...]

[...] A new administration, closer to the Bill Clinton's one, could permit a renewal of the dialogue and offer a new impulse to the transatlantic relationship. For that matter, the election of Nicolas Sarkozy, who expressly stated his will to revitalize French-American relations, is also an asset. On the other end, the EU isn't able to really strengthen its relations with the US because of the seriousness of its institutional crisis. Currently, no important decision can be undertaken by the EU and so its relations with other states or organization are at a stand-still. [...]

[...] The strength of transatlantic relations will depend on the ability of each partner to be up to its challenges. Will the US have the patience and the good will to renounce (or at least reduce) its tendency to unilateralism? Will the EU be able to give itself the means to achieve its ambitions with a real common budget, a political identity and democratic institutions? Actually, those conditions appear pretty difficult to meet, but each one has to permit a good evolution and the EU has the responsibility to dampen American's unilateralism and to propose solutions rather than simply oppose or condemn US's actions. [...]

[...] Since this official trip to the European Council, both the US and the EU adopted a very consensual and diplomatic stand, aiming at the reconciliation and organized numerous official meetings. However, it may appear as a farce, the transatlantic relations seem rather superficial; they couldn't stand another crisis as strong as the one about Iraq. Yet the political will exists. A still necessary relationship First, NATO is still a necessary organisation and if the guarantee mutual military assistance between its members. If it isn't as important as it was, it remains a matter of international security. [...]