MEPs, along with the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council and the European Commission, on Wednesday 9 June underlined their expectations for the EU-US summit, scheduled for 15 June in Brussels.
In a debate in the European Parliament plenary session, several MEPs said that the meeting should be an opportunity to move from words to actions. They hoped for progress in many areas, be it in terms of trade and taxation, on climate, or in terms of foreign policy.
On behalf of the S&D group, Spain’s Iratxe Garcia Pérez hoped that the summit would revive the transatlantic agenda and reverse Donald Trump’s actions. For Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatia), both sides must try to redefine their relationship on an equal footing and assume their responsibilities.
His EPP colleague Anna-Michelle Assimakopoulou (Greens/EFA) called on both sides to “focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us”.
Martin Schirdewan (The Left, Germany) said the EU should not be a vassal of the US, but should push for peace and defend its own relations with Russia and China.
“After years of tension, expectations for the summit are very high”, added Belgian Geert Bourgeois for ECR. In his view, the two sides should create the Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council (see EUROPE 12726/17), develop a strategy towards China and work together at the Summit of Democratic Countries.
Dacian Cioloș (Renew Europe, Romania) insisted on the need for solidarity among democracies and to respond to those who question the system “with courage and firmness”.
“Although it is not a question of agreeing on everything [...], we must do things together, strengthen democracy, fight against tax havens, and develop common positions on China”, explained Radosław Sikorski (Poland) on behalf of the EPP.
Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany) said “if we want to build back a better world, we need to highlight the need for an international infrastructure investment initiative—a connectivity strategy”. He regretted that this project is moving slowly.
High expectations from the Commission and the Council of the EU
Ana Paula Zacarias, the Portuguese Secretary of State, on behalf of the EU Council Presidency, stressed the “symbolic character” of the summit, which should be “a milestone to relaunch” the transatlantic partnership. According to her, the meeting should lead to agreements in four areas: – the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recovery; – protection of the planet and green growth; – trade; – a “safer and freer” world order.
For the European Commission’s executive vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis, the summit will be “an opportunity to show the world that we are determined to tackle global challenges together”.
In particular, he hoped that the summit could lead to a positive trade agenda. “We will commit collectively to addressing the challenges posed by non-market economies and, as a confidence-building measure, we must defuse and resolve EU-US trade disputes”, he added, explaining that the EU wanted to make decisive progress in resolving the bilateral disputes in the Boeing/Airbus case and the US Section 232 measures on steel and aluminium. On this last point, he is waiting for a gesture from the Americans, after the suspension of the EU’s tariff increase on a series of American products.
According to a seven-page draft summit statement seen by Reuters, the two sides should commit to finding a solution by 11 July to the dispute over aircraft manufacturer subsidies, lift their steel tariffs by 1 December, and work to avoid future trade disputes.
They should also agree to cooperate with China and on the fight against climate change. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)