The United States and Europe: Current Issues

Derek E. Mix
Analyst in European Affairs

Common values, overlapping interests, and shared goals give the United States and Europe what some observers consider to be the world's most complete partnership. In terms of security and prosperity, analysts assert that the two sides have grown increasingly interdependent. Transatlantic relations during the Bush Administration were marked by tensions over the invasion of Iraq and disagreements on a number of other issues, although the Administration's second term featured a substantial improvement in the relationship compared to the first four years. The majority of Europeans warmly welcomed President Barack Obama to office, and his popularity suggested opportunities for the United States and Europe to address the common set of global challenges they face. At the same time, observers note that an improved transatlantic political atmosphere does not necessarily translate into tangible foreign policy results. Transatlantic cooperation is strong on many key issues, but some divisions and tensions also exist. 

A number of shared foreign-policy challenges involve the wider Middle East region. In Afghanistan, governance and security conditions remain serious concerns. President Obama has shifted U.S. focus to Afghanistan, and Europe's commitment to the stabilization and reconstruction mission there will continue to be an important tone setter in transatlantic relations. With a nuclear Iran deemed an unacceptable danger to regional stability by many officials and analysts, the United States and the European Union (EU) continue to seek a way to halt Iran's uranium enrichment activities in the wake of that country's disputed election. The United States and the EU have attempted to renew their attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and both advocate the negotiation of a "two-state" political settlement. Many experts, however, observe that current circumstances do not easily lend themselves to a revived peace process. 

A range of other issues also rank high on the transatlantic agenda. With the world economy center stage, the global financial crisis has posed difficult challenges to both sides and has raised concerns about the adoption of protectionist policies. While some transatlantic trade disputes persist, efforts are ongoing to reduce non-tariff barriers and increase regulatory convergence. Europe has set ambitious standards in climate change policy. Despite disappointment with the failure of the December 2009 Copenhagen conference to produce a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, many Europeans hope that the United States will adopt new climate change legislation that could contain binding greenhouse gas emissions targets. U.S.-EU counterterrorism cooperation has been strong since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, although some Europeans have objected to aspects of U.S. policies. The planned closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility has been applauded in Europe, although U.S. requests to accept released detainees raised questions and debate, and the process of sorting through the difficulties has been slow. The decision to admit additional EU countries to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in late 2008 helped defuse European discontent over visa reciprocity issues. Lastly, relations between the West and Russia have grown increasingly tense in recent years. While the Obama Administration's "re-set" approach appears to have contributed to an improved atmosphere, common approaches to Russia—among U.S. policymakers, within Europe, and across the Atlantic—have proven difficult to formulate. 

This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses the key issues outlined above, which may have implications for U.S. interests during the second session of the 111th Congress. 


Date of Report: February 1, 2010
Number of Pages: 17
Order Number: RS22163
Price: $29.95