FRIDE, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and CEPS were teaming up for a stock-take of transatlantic relations after the first year of the Obama administration.

The focus was on four thematic areas. First, changing positions towards multilateralism, including in relation to the financial crisis. Second, policies on climate change, especially in light of the December 2009 Copenhagen summit. Third, security challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fourth, Middle East policy.

In each area we explored a series of core questions. Have differences between the EU and US narrowed during 2009? Is cooperation more effective? Where do transatlantic differences remain, or indeed threaten to become more rather than less notable? What are the policy implications?

For the full agenda please click here (pdf).
For more information please contact Sebastian Gräfe, Program Director for Foreign & Security Policy and Transatlantic Issues: sebastian.graefe[at]boell.org

Global Governance

Both the USA and the EU have reason to deepen their relationship in the context of global cooperation: The financial crisis has revealed the need for global cooperation, especially with raising powers like India and China. With the Lisbon Treaty and the European Security Strategy, the European Union has created a framework for global cooperation. However, its full potential is still to be tapped. These issues are explored and discussed in the following two papers:

Sven Biscop: "Of Greeks and Romans: The EU, US and Security Strategy in a Multipolar World"
(pdf, 323 KB)
Richard Gowan: "The Obama Administration and Multilateralism: Europe Relegated"
(pdf, 322 KB)

Climate

Copenhagen showed the urgent need for a closer transatlantic cooperation with regard to climate and energy policy.  After a decade of very different view on climate change and energy, the United States and the European Union have developed several key elements of such a policy.

Christian Egenhofer: "Climate Change Post-Copenhagen: The Need for Transatlantic Cooperation"
(pdf, 359 KB)

Afghanistan and Pakistan

Despite the hopes for a closer transatlantic cooperation under President Barack Obama, the transatlantic policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan continues to be a difficult task. Especially with regard to Pakistan, Europe and the Unites States are still to develop a more proactive strategy. The following briefings by Daniel Korski and Brian Katulis discuss these issues further:

Daniel Korski, "Transatlantic ‘AfPak’ Policy: One Year Later"
(pdf, 1.16 MB)
Brian Katulis: "Transatlantic Policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan in Obama Year One: Missed Opportunities"
(pdf, 346 KB)

Middle East

Under the current administration, the US has moved closer to European positions in regard to the Middle East Peace Process. The progress of this transatlantic approach is discussed in two policy briefings, by Michele Dunne and Rosemary Hollis:


Michele Dunne: "One Year of Obama in the Middle East: Have Transatlantic Differences Narrowed?"  
(pdf, 298 KB)
Rosemary Hollis: "European Responses to Obama’s Middle East Policy" 
(pdf, 322 KB)