Brussels, 06/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 6 November, the day of the American elections, a senior European official spoke about the EU-US relationship and American foreign policy. In his opinion, whether the new president of the United States be Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, “there will be a change of style” in US foreign policy. He said that although Hillary Clinton may not leave her post immediately, she should not stay in it more than a few months.
Concerning Mitt Romney, “it is difficult to make predictions. Romney is quite aggressive but more moderate in foreign policy. It will depend on his priorities, on his entourage (…) There is quite a lot of uncertainty on his policy”¸ he said, adding that the EEAS has not had a great amount of informal contact.
The official also said he was concerned about the change of administration in the US which “is taking a lot of time at a moment when current international affairs are extremely heated”, mentioning Syria, Iran, the elections in Israel, and also the Middle East.
Better late collaboration with the Obama administration.
On the disinterest of Americans towards the EU, the senior official said that this was truer at the start of Obama's term of office than the end. “Everyone found the meeting (at the summit in Prague in 2009) heavy and conformist. The Americans had said that 'if that's a meeting with the EU, no thanks!' Since then it has got distinctly better”, he said, stressing that with the Lisbon Treaty the European speakers are now always the same (the presidents of the European Commission and Council and the high representative). “The Americans have said they appreciate this and that the relationship is easier and more smooth-flowing”, he said.
In his view, if the US has wanted more contact with Asia, it does not mean that they have let go of their transatlantic relationship - “There aren't many other allies as solid as the EU”.
The official stated that the economic and financial crisis is at the “heart” of the EU-US relationship, just like with China, Russia and Mexico. “There is a real concern and a true need for them to understand how the market works. The repetition of the European Councils disorientates the partners. We need to explain to them”, he said. The official added that the crisis had occupied half of the last summits with the US (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)