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meEU leaders were relieved by the election of Democratic candidate Joe Biden as US president. But no one in Brussels and the member state capitals is so naive to believe that the relationship between Europe and the United States can simply be restored to pre-Trump times. At the end of next week, the heads of state and government want to discuss the transatlantic relationship at their summit. They want to make Biden “self-confident”, as EU diplomats emphasize, clear proposals even before he takes office in January.
At a summit between the United States and the EU in the first half of next year, both sides will set a common agenda. It is an “invitation to participate to the United States”, it is said in Brussels. The focus should be on the corona pandemic and the economic consequences, climate change and digitization, but also the promotion of multilateralism and classic security policy.
Both the European Commission under the presidency of Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Council, Charles Michel, have produced their own discussion papers for this purpose. The FAZ has the draft of the “new EU-US agenda. For global change “, as well as the document on” Renewal of EU-US relations. ” From Michel. The thrust is similar. “The result of the elections in the United States, the firmer steadfastness of Europe and the task of designing a post-crown world offer the unique opportunity to design a new common agenda for global cooperation,” says the Commission document. with a view to the “strategic challenge” posed by China.
Consequently, the Commission also welcomes Biden’s idea of convening a “democratic summit”. The change of government was “an opportunity for the EU to breathe new life into the strategic partnership with the United States,” says Michel. Both parties would have to join forces to set the global agenda.
Common Standards for Tech Groups
The commission’s seven-page document goes into more detail and places particular emphasis on three themes: overcoming the crown crisis, climate change and digitization. A few years ago, foreign and security policy and trade would certainly have set the agenda, the agency said. That shows how the balance in the transatlantic relationship has changed. The commission proposes a transatlantic technological agenda to create a common technological space as the “nucleus of a coalition of like-minded democracies”, also here, in order to differentiate itself from China.
A new transatlantic trade and technology council will play a central role. Both parties are supposed to coordinate the regulation of big tech groups and the digital sector as a whole and develop common standards. The EU Commission wants to intensify cooperation between competition authorities in the digital sector. In addition, it wants to resolve controversial issues such as the protection of personal data, the tax on digital companies or the role of the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei in the expansion of the 5G network.
It promotes a global digital tax solution and a common transatlantic approach to control foreign investments in sensitive business areas. In this context, the Commission asks the US side to get rid of “bilateral issues” such as the dispute over Airbus-Boeing subsidies or protective tariffs on steel products and to work on reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO ).
When it comes to climate change, both Michel and the Commission are counting on Biden not only rejoining the Paris Agreement, as promised, but also committing to climate neutrality by 2050. The competitiveness of the economy also plays a role. a special role. Both documents advocate working together on a border tax on CO2 that is compatible with WTO rules. That should prevent climate spill.
The Commission wants to create a common framework for a sustainable financial sector, based on the so-called EU taxonomy rules. As a lesson from the corona pandemic, trade in important medical products should be facilitated and data sharing should be intensified to prevent further pandemics. The Commission also promotes close cooperation in the distribution and financing of tests and vaccines around the world.
