I rather like it when VIPs come to the European Parliament. On such occasions it is really quite possible to believe that the EU assembly contains 736 deputies.
And it was certainly worth MEPs turning out for US vice-president Joe Biden’s speech to the chamber this morning.
They heard a 25-minute talk that ticked all the right schmooze boxes. It was a paean to MEPs’ status in the global democratic world suggesting Brussels, alongside Washington, has claim to the title of capital of the free world.
MEPs will also be feeling gratified because the speech, generous about the state of EU-US relations, only served to underline that Washington has woken up to the power of the European Parliament in the EU’s legislative process.
The turning point occurred in February when data privacy-conscious MEPs rejected a deal allowing US authorities to access European citizens’ banking data in Swift (a company that handles banking transactions) in order to track terrorists.
Parliament’s move came despite huge pressure by Washington. It reflects a strong ideological divide between the two sides on where to put the marker when it comes to security and data protection. And Biden devoted much of his speech to stressing that the US understood parliament’s concerns. Although there was also a pointed reference to using power responsibly.
It will not be the only transatlantic dispute in this area. MEPs have also expressed privacy concerns over the anti-counterfeiting treaty, ACTA, that the EU, US, and others are negotiating.
EP chief Jerzy Buzek was in the Washington last week to open a parliament office. Its staff will be busy, I imagine. A congressional office in Brussels would be a good idea too. In that way, both sides could track legislation in its very early stages, work on relations and perhaps anticipate future ‘Swift-like’ problems.
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There was one part of the speech that will likely strike an off note for European ears.
“Climate change – one of the greatest threats our planet faces – the US and Europe are working to ensure that all countries, especially the major economies are contributing to a global solution. We all look to and we did take a major step forward in Copenhagen,” said Biden.
Whatever the climate change summit in the Danish capital may have been, it certainly was not a major step forward.
For the European Union it was a rude awakening to its ranking in the world, and a rather brutal lesson that good intentions and the moral high ground are not sufficient if you don’t have something the other side wants.
European eyes regarding Barack Obama were opened too. US domestic policy clearly ranked above climate change. A high-ranking (and disillusioned) EU official in January remarked that Obama’s tactic on climate change during the summit were not that different to his predecessor George W. Bush.
For a rather different view of the talks, I urge you to read this account on Spiegel Online which has managed to get a recording of the last sorry stages.
#1 by eslaporte on May 7, 2010 - 5:03 pm
Is I’ve said time and again, Europe really needs to stop doing the bidding of America. What is good for America and its interests is not always good for Europe and Europeans’ interests. American policy is crafted on realism that places American interests above the interests of all others – including in so-called “partnerships.” Also in the area of the use of force, the emerging ESDP and ESDP missions have been within the international norms of the use of force and at the request of the UN. We know what kind of use of force the US practices…
The reality is that Europe and America do not share the same values -and this is most noticeable in the area of security. This includes in areas of the rights of citizens and other human beings. In America there is a generalized suspicion of all persons, foreigners especially.
American “aviation watchlists” and other forms of “air travel security” that have amounted to outright abuse that the EU would not tolerate from anyplace else on Earth! “Aviation watchlists” have been abused in the political, as well as racial/religious/ethnic, profiling of air travelers! Why – you were all upset by the about the extent of PNR data transfers! Why in God’s name don’t you get upset about the abuse of “aviation watchlists?” The right to travel is a human right! The right to leave one’s country is a human right!
PLEASE – before any policy is adapted by the EU that could effect the human rights of Americans – please consult watch groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union!
Also – in doing the bidding of America, the EU especially needs to stop aiding and abetting the American government’s abuse of its own people. I am personally SICK and TIRED of the European Union in this kind of relationship with the American government.
ANY relationship with America for the EU MUST be measured with European values. If it’s a policy between the US-EU that the EU would NEVER have with Belarus, Iran, China, Cuba – because of human rights – why then is there always an exception for America?
WHY?!
#2 by Mr. Lawyer on May 7, 2010 - 11:31 pm
The problem for the American economy is more profound than Greece’s (or Europe’s) debt crisis. It is that the vast American middle class lacks the buying power it needs to fuel demand for the goods and services the U.S. economy is capable of producing
#3 by eslaporte on May 8, 2010 - 2:50 pm
We have “transatlantic relations” that are more reflective of the Cold War and not the modern age. It is about time that the EU be an independent actor. The visit of VP Biden should not be looked at any different that the visit by any other foreign leader.
It’s the European Union that needs to get up and make some kind of impact in the international stage for European values. The EU should have the long term goal or leading – not following – any relationship with the US. Europe needs to use the new instruments from the Lisbon Treaty, chiefly the Diplomatic corps, to create greater Europeanization of relationship, including with the US.
The EU should be a champion of human rights, including in relation to the US, and not just more than the death penalty. How about saying something about conditions in American prisons and jail. The EU should promote social democratic norms and practices globally, as well as in association agreements with other nations. The existence of a small percentage of people holding much of the world’s resources should be seen as offensive.
Excessive ties to unregulated, laissez faire capitalist crooks of Wall Street is the actually cause of the world’s problems.
Now with the foreign policy instruments of the Lisbon Treaty, it is time for European emancipation from the outdated Cold War institutions and relationships.
#4 by Musician on May 11, 2010 - 6:42 pm
There is a need for collaboration unprecedented in human history. There is a group of people who deny the science, the reality of climate change. They are the enemies of us all.