Diplomatic relations between the US and the EU since 1989

Résumé du document

Transatlantic relations between the USA and Europe went without saying for near two centuries. As a matter of fact, this close relation reflects a shared culture, fueled by successive waves of immigration of Europeans to "the land of plenty". But, if these diplomatic bounds were between one European country and the USA, the creation of the EU made things changed. Asserting itself as an international actor, the USA had to take it into consideration. Even if their cooperation is going further and further, official relations have been establishing since the beginning of the European Construction. As a matter of fact, a long time before becoming the European Union, diplomatic representation was initiated in 1953, when US observers were sent to the European Coal and Steel Community. Parallel to it, a delegation of the European Commission was created in 1954, in the US capital: Washington DC and became a full diplomatic representation in 1971. As far as the USA is concerned, the United States Mission to the European Communities (Rome Treaties, 1957) settled in Brussels in 1961. But 1989 was a turning point because of a major evolution: the end of the Cold War put an end to a unifying element: the Soviet threaten, seemed to enable the EC to emancipate from the USA leadership and develop new plans, such as an embryo of a political union established in 1993(Maastricht).The USA took it into account and modified their diplomatic relations, far beyond economical ones which had always been the first link between both communities. Consequently, analyzing this period is synonymous of focusing on renewal relations between the USA and Europe, not only economical ones (which will not be discuss in this research paper), but political ones, as two actor of the international system with global responsibilities, above all in foreign policy and defense. Allies or Enemies, this period is quite eventful and transatlantic relations have never been so blurred. This complex relationship is reinforced by common confusion about the actors and the organization we have to consider: Entire Europe? NATO? UN? EU ? Even if some allusions are necessary, the aim is to present an overview on the USA and the EU bilateral agreements, especially on their institutionalized relations. In a like manner, EU policies as well as American ones will not be described to only focus on links between them. But, what are these links exactly? What is the future of transatlantic cooperation? The debate, on both side of the Atlantic is opened since the end of the Cold War. Some of them believe the disengagement is inevitable, other ones regard it as a great opportunity to create a more efficient cooperation, based on mutual consent far away from pragmatic issues, as the former Foreign Minister of Germany , Hans Dietrich Genscher said "Never in the history chances to realize an Euro-American common vision of a world where would reign stability, peace and democracy, were so promising.

Extraits

[...] As far as the diplomatic structure is concerned, the most important decision taken consists in organizing regular presidential summits between the president of the United States, the president of the European Commission and the leader of the country which has the European presidency at this time. But, these reunions are only the final result of a long procedure. They take place after an intensive dialogue between senior-level representatives composed of officials from the European Commission, the EU Presidency, the Council Secretariat and the US State Department. This organ meets four to six times a years in order to establish priorities which would be (or not) confirmed by the presidential summit. [...]

[...] However, with the 9/11 attacks in 2001, as well as Madrid ones in 2004 and London ones in 2005, the threat of a global terrorism proved the strength of European-American alliance and their common interests like no other issue since the end of the Cold War(the new enemy was found!).These terrible events reinforced their partnership in order to do as much as possible to prevent terrorists from operating, as the EU-US declaration on combating terrorism, adopted in 2004 at the EU-US summit of Dromoland Castle proves. This threat revives their collaboration to preserve liberties, peace and democracy by concluding several news agreements which have their former declarations been concrete. Examples do not lack. The first sector which is concerned is Justice. Extradition and mutual legal assistance agreements were signed in order to facilitate and accelerate extradition. [...]

[...] However, we cannot reduce transatlantic relations to a cooperation between more or less political spheres, that is why the USA and the EU are promoting deeper links between both civilian communities (III) Europe and the USA have already experimented crises during the Cold War: Suez Canal when the USA did not support France and United Kingdom, France withdraw of NATO, Kippur War but these argues were quite superficial and each time a real issue was at stake, unity was restored above all because NATO, informally led by the USA, was the only means to protect Europe from a soviet threat. But, with the failure of USSR superpower, NATO seemed to lose its vital reason: there is no enemy anymore. Consequently, how the USA could remain a “European power”? in this new world order? [...]

[...] González, President of the European Council, and the US President Mr. Clinton .With this new declaration, the USA and the EU aim at four goals: First, promoting where there is not and guarantying where there is peace, stability, democracy and as well as helping under developed countries. Their common missions consists in mutual humanitarian assistance, preventive diplomacy, and also contribute together to the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, promotion of peace in Israel-Palestinian conflict, and finally reinforcing news democracies in Eastern Europe. [...]

[...] Nowadays, extradition is possible for more offences, procedures are done by direct contacts between both agencies, and both of them can see bank accounts during their investigation. More generally, a juridical cooperation exists between Eurojust(the EU body for judicial cooperation in criminal matters) and the US Justice Department and was institutionalized in 2004.Finally, two agreements were signed between Europol and the US law enforcement agencies in order to share information on intelligence and personal date. Secondly, the direct consequence of terrorism attacks is the reinforced cooperation as far as transportation and travel are concerned. [...]