MEPs approved, on Wednesday 6 October, the report by Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatia) on the future of the European Union’s relations with the United States by 550 votes to 83 with 55 abstentions..
“The report stresses that the EU must develop an approach of strategic autonomy in the fight against climate change, security, trade, etc., while maintaining a strong partnership with the United States”, said the rapporteur.
Part of The Left group voted against the report. In a press briefing on the 1 October, Emmanuel Maurel (The Left, France) said he regretted the lack of information on European strategic autonomy or on US sanctions against the EU.
Some S&D members abstained on the final vote. “I miss the need to question, in a harder way, the way the Americans treat us”, said Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D, France) - who abstained - at the same press briefing.
In the last few days, the rapporteur himself had tabled nine amendments to his report. They are intended to take account of recent events such as the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the conclusion of the AUKUS defence alliance between the US, Australia and the UK. They add, for example, a reference to the “EU’s own interests” in security or economic matters.
These amendments also welcome the start of the work and agenda of the working groups within the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC). However, they recall that this Council is not the forum for negotiating a trade agreement.
All these amendments were adopted by the European Parliament.
The importance of multilateralism
The equal treatment of partners on both sides of the Atlantic is of fundamental importance to MEPs. They also called for “enhanced inter-parliamentary cooperation on various issues” between the US and the EU.
They suggest that the two partners work together on the reform of the international corporate tax system and also on visa reciprocity. On health issues, MEPs welcomed the US contribution to Covax.
Strengthening business links
The Parliament also wants to strengthen transatlantic ties on economic issues. However, the rapporteur’s amendments reiterate the need to improve coordination and consultation between the two sides, “in order to avoid transatlantic tensions such as those that followed the conclusion of the trilateral AUKUS agreement without any consultation of the EU’s allies”.
Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), MEP and rapporteur for the draft opinion on this text for the Committee on International Trade, stressed this point during the plenary debate on 5 October: “The submarine agreement certainly did not help stabilise relations. We must be clear that the EU must pursue its own interests”.
In the report, MEPs encourage the EU and the US to coordinate on issues such as foreign subsidies that distort competition, to cooperate on economic challenges posed by China or Russia, as well as to consult on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Finally, for MEPs, it is crucial to find a solution to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium, simply urging the US to remove them. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo have still not resolved the dispute, despite the 1 December deadline (see EUROPE 12802/15).
Foreign Affairs and Defence
“Transatlantic cooperation would not be complete without clear cooperation on foreign affairs and security”, said MEP Zeljana Zovko (EPP, Croatia) in plenary on 5 October. The report is along the same lines.
It also calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to establish the EU-US Security and Defence Dialogue (see EUROPE 12741/3).
As on economic issues, MEPs recommend a coordinated approach to dealing with China, including prioritising “issues of cyberspace, hybrid threats, emerging and disruptive technologies, space, arms control and non-proliferation”.
On Russia too, the EU and the US could develop a common approach to deal with “threats” from the regime, according to the European Parliament.
See the report: https://bit.ly/3uXuM0I (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)