To what extent have changing relations with the USA affected the development and nature of the European Union?

Aqeel Hussain – P03171280

Alison Statham – POLI 1003 – Contemporary European Issues

In order to answer this particular question, we must look at how the relationship was between USA and the European Union before all the changes started to occur with both parties.

The EU-US relations is a major issue in the world’s history. The ‘Transatlantic Relationship’ between Europe and America, is one of key importance to the economy today. During almost 40 years, the transatlantic relations were aimed confronting the many challenges posed by the Soviet Union and its allies. Based on shared values, common interest and historical experiences, transatlantic relations still remains a dynamic process. However it is one not immune to corrosion. What has been granted by 50 years of serious political and economical association between the two sides of the Atlantic may however fall into danger. The complexity of various issues has shown the differences between the two sides.

There are numerous examples of ‘these differences’ thus, before the terrible attacks on The World Trade Centre on September 11th, the Europeans mainly preoccupied themselves with their own domestic affairs. The mood, in the United States also appeared preoccupied but also triumphant. Triumphant in a sense, that across the political sector, the feeling was that the US were a country “enjoying a pre-eminence unrivalled by even the greatest empires of the past” in which global American leadership was seen as questionable.

Yet after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, Washington left very little room for the European Union (Alliances) to prove any immediate usefulness. In a sense the Alliance were there to make sure the US didn’t run out of machinery, soldiers, assets etc. In a sense the terrorist attacks played a catalyst role because in the aftermath, it exposed a hidden side to the Transatlantic relationship; for most security and defence problems erupting outside its geographic perimeters, the Alliance has now an even limited appeal to the US.

It was a clear perception by the Americans of the difficulties for the Europeans to efficiently participate with the US on a large-scale operation after a decade of drawing their respective defence budget.

Looking at this, the US would not think that the European Union would be much help and from looking at recent events it would suggest that the European Union are not as appealing to the US are they were in the past.

Even though the EU-US relations had gone quiet because of all the political and military ‘bravado’, the international economy was still in full swing ...

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Even though the EU-US relations had gone quiet because of all the political and military ‘bravado’, the international economy was still in full swing and business was up and running throughout all these events.

Which brings us know to the attention of the European Union itself and its development. Since the terrorist attacks and the War on Iraq, the European Union as already mentioned above, came back to concentrate on its own domestic affairs.

The main topic concerning the EU now is the issue of enlargement. The EU wants to develop itself as a ‘United Europe’, taking us to an EU of 500 million people. With as many as 10 states (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) looking likely to join the EU by the end of

2004, the chance of a higher power Europe is looking more likely than ever. However, the nature of developing the EU also has its foreseen problems.

With enlargement comes the need for further reform, questions such as the appropriate level of governance for different issues in Europe – or who does what inside the EU.

Even though the terrorist attacks and the war scenes are over, the need for transatlantic relations remain as necessary as it was before the tragic events. A different situation has started on the world scene. A situation where matters of concerns have now largely drifted from hard security issues towards public issues. Military balance no longer dominates world peace. Environmental issues, long-term effects of biotechnologies, the impact of genetically modified organisms on nature and human beings. Public issues such as organised crime with globalise networks of corruption, and, last, the impact of globalisation on democracy and the national state are all issues that now give rise to states on the international stage.

In a sense, the recent change in the development and running of the EU has come about due to the tragic events occurred on the world stage which has been affected the world, in particular the US. The impact of the US has caused the need for change in various ways. These changes undoubtedly have caused changes in the ‘Transatlantic Relationship’ with the EU. This in turn has changed the EU as well. This is because the EU and the US are the two world’s biggest traders and any change in their system of trading will of course cause change in their respective country and their economy. There is no doubt about it.

Coming back to the issue of enlargement, this issue was not taken up because of the changing relation with the US but to have a stronger Europe and a stronger partner with the US. A genuine ‘joint society’ where the common frame of European law and regulations adopted by the members in Brussels, binds our countries in ways that directly affect our daily lives.

There a lot of advantages in having a ‘United Europe’ it has been said that an extra 10 European states will be joining the EU, which will lead to an EU of 25 states. Exploitation of economies of scale from supplying and buying from a larger market would benefit our economy. An ‘enlarged’ EU would lead to a more diverse European Labour market, more jobs and free trade. All this would develop and change the nature of the European Union and affect our relationship with the US. However it should be notified, that it wasn’t the changing relationship with the US that the decision of ‘EU Enlargement’ was made.

It is logically to say that the changing relationship from Blair and Clinton to Blair and Bush has had an undermining effect on the EU. Even though it occurred several years ago the change in the US presidency has in fact change the relationship between the US and EU. As with any state the change in presidency will no doubt has a change in the way the state operate which in turn would lead to a change in relationships with other states. This certain presidential change has caused change in the EU-US relationship. However the EU is quite a powerful union and will not take this presidential change as the main factor towards them changing. It should be said that the history of the Bush family is one cause of concern, and what this certain Bush decides to do could well change the EU and its function as a partner to the US.

The US-EU have been very good to each other in terms of cooperation. Despite differences relating to the war on Iraq, anyone observing the US-EU relationship would be struck by the close cooperation they have had on counter-terrorism efforts, non-proliferation and various regional issues.

In the summer, the US and EU had a good summit in Washington, where they adopted concrete measures to increase our cooperation on non-proliferation, energy, and counter-terrorism.

In conclusion to this question, what the US has done by changing its relation with the EU to affect the nature and development of the EU is very small compared to what the EU has done on its own to make it a stronger Europe and a stronger partner to the US.

As said earlier, what developments the EU has done has changed its relation with the US (e.g. enlargement). However, there has been times where the actions of the US has indirectly affected the European Union (e.g. war on Iraq).

Therefore to say that the relationship with the US caused changes in the EU would be unfair to those who work tirelessly in the EU to make it the EU it is today. But it can be said to a small extent that the changing relationship with the US has affected the development and nature of the European Union, otherwise it would be unfair to the US.