US Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, announced on Monday 4 March that “effective immediately” the US State Department will “again” recognise the EU's representation in Washington as “equivalent to that of a bilateral mission in the Diplomatic Corps Order of Precedence”.
“The European Union is a uniquely important organization, and one of America’s most valuable partners in ensuring global security and prosperity. [...] Europe’s security and success are inextricably linked to that of the United States, and this level of engagement and cooperation should be recognized appropriately in all settings”, said Mr Sondland in a statement from the US Mission to the Union.
According to the mission, “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has instructed the Chief of Protocol to take the necessary measures to effect this reinstatement”.
At the beginning of January, Europeans expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision taken at the end of 2018 by US President Donald Trump to downgrade the diplomatic status of the EU mission from Member State to international organisation (see EUROPE 12168). The spokeswoman of the European External Action Service, Maja Kocijancic, therefore welcomed, on Monday 4 March, the American decision to “revert to the usual practice”.
This US announcement comes at a time when Stavros Lambrinidis took over as EU Ambassador to Washington on 1 March, replacing David O'Sullivan. An arrival “warmly welcomed” by the American mission. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)