THE PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE: Biden builds bridges after turbulent Trump era

New US President undertook an intensive programme of meetings on his keenly-awaited European trip but, asks Martin Banks, what did Joe Biden’s visit actually achieve?

So, did the EU and US seize the opportunity to strengthen their partnership during Joe Biden’s whirlwind visit? Well, there was certainly no shortage of consultations and negotiations on everything from trade and China to climate change and, naturally, the ongoing COVID health crisis.

There was, of course, also a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, for many the key moment of his visit. Throw in his presence, amid the beautiful backdrop of a Cornish vista, a tête-à-tête with the Queen of Britain at the G7, a summit of NATO leaders in Brussels and the 78-year-old president had plenty of “souvenirs” to take back to the States.

“The will to work together with the closest allies has undoubtedly returned. The G7 summit in Cornwall, the NATO summit and the EU-US summit in Brussels clearly showed this” 
David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee

Of course, Europe and the US did not see eye-to-eye on everything, but for senior German MEP David McAllister the visit was a success. The EPP Group deputy, chair of parliament’s influential foreign affairs committee, said the meeting between Biden and the EU’s leadership was “another milestone in the new transatlantic partnership.”

He went on to say, “The will to work together with the closest allies has undoubtedly returned. The G7 summit in Cornwall, the NATO summit and the EU-US summit in Brussels clearly showed this. The suspension of the harmful tariffs related to the Airbus-Boeing dispute for five years is a very concrete and tangible outcome of the EU-US summit. The US is and remains our most important political and economic partner.“

„We would give our economies a boost in the post-pandemic recovery if all trade related disputes could be resolved. Let us further collaborate trustfully to address bilateral issues as well as global challenges.”

The EU-US summit in Brussels, the first in some seven years, was, according to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, a chance for the two sides to renew their commitment to a “strong transatlantic partnership based on common values and interests.”

So, what were the tangible results of Biden’s chinwag with EU leaders? Well, on global warming, the EU and US stressed, in a joint statement, that they had “strengthened cooperation to tackle climate change, environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity and promote green growth.”

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