The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Monday 15 June that the commitment to the transatlantic partnership was “as strong as ever”, following an hour-and-a-half-long videoconference between European Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (see EUROPE 12464/1).
“Transatlantic relations are one of the essential pillars of the world order”, he told the media, adding that the video conference had served to reaffirm commitment to transatlantic cooperation.
In their discussion, the Europeans and their American counterpart referred in particular to China and its “growing assertiveness” on many fronts. A subject that could constitute a strengthening of the transatlantic partnership, according to the High Representative. “There are issues that we face together in our relations with China and for which it is very important that we work closely together to address them. This includes, of course, the situation in Hong Kong”, Borrell said. He suggested the creation of a separate bilateral dialogue focusing on China and the challenges that “its actions and ambitions” represent for the US and the EU, in order to find common ground to defend common values and interests.
Another topic of discussion at the meeting will be the Eastern Partnership, as the EU will hold its EU-Eastern Partnership Summit on Thursday. Here again, “the strong partnership between the EU and the United States will remain crucial, especially with regard to Ukraine”, the head of European diplomacy said.
In connection with these two topics, Mr Borrell stressed that Europeans and Americans shared the challenge of disinformation, announcing that they had agreed to examine ways of strengthening their partnership to address this growing problem.
The relationship remains complicated, however, as is the case with the Middle East peace process, which was discussed with Mr Pompeo. The High Representative recalled that the US plan had created some momentum that could be used to launch international efforts based on existing internationally agreed parameters, but stressed that the same US plan did not follow these parameters. According to Mr Borrell, Mr Pompeo had taken “good note” of the European remarks and the different points of view of Europeans.
Another bone of contention is cooperation with the World Health Organization during the Covid-19 period. Thus, Mr Borrell stressed the need for international cooperation, regretting the United States’ announcement of its withdrawal from the WHO and hoping that this decision would be reconsidered. “Global problems require global solutions and multilateral tools”, the High Representative said.
At the time of going to press, Mr Pompeo had not yet commented on his meeting with his European counterparts. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)