In 1990, the Transatlantic Declaration formalized relations between the EU and the US. Five years later, the New Transatlantic Agenda outlined a new framework for our relationship, including four areas for joint action: promoting peace, stability, democracy, and development; responding to global challenges; contributing to the liberalization and expansion of world trade; and improving communication and ensuring a long-term commitment to our partnership. 

2011 Summit

The 2011 EU-US Presidential Summit focused on reinvigorating economic growth, creating jobs, and ensuring the financial health and stability of the transatlantic economy. In addition, we further strengthened our partnership in other arenas, including the Arab Spring, the Middle East Peace Process, nuclear nonproliferation, homeland security, cyber issues, climate change, and development assistance.

Learn more about previous EU-US Summits, which take place annually.

Ongoing EU-US Dialogues

Thematic dialogues ensure that many actors contribute to the transatlantic political process by encouraging legislators, businesspeople, consumers, scientists, academics, and citizens’ groups to build links with counterparts across the Pond.

 The Transatlantic Economic Council advances EU-US economic integration by bringing together governments, the business community, and consumers to work on areas where regulatory convergence and understanding can reap rewards on both sides of the Atlantic.

Chaired by the EU Trade Commissioner and the US Deputy National Security Adviser for

International Economic Affairs, the TEC provides a high-level forum to address complex areas like investment, financial markets, accounting standards, and secure trade, along with more technical issues.

The Transatlantic Consumers' Dialogue, made up of EU and US consumer organizations, develops consumer policy recommendations and promotes consumer interests in EU and US policymaking. Conferences take place once a year, alternately in the US and the EU, and produce recommendations related to food, nanotechnology, trade, health, and intellectual property issues.

The Transatlantic Business Dialogue helps establish a barrier-free transatlantic market to serve as a catalyst for global trade liberalization and prosperity. TABD members include leading American and European companies, both large and small, with strong transatlantic credentials.

The Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue fosters dialogue between the European Parliament and the US Congress, including biannual meetings and teleconferences organized on specific topics of mutual concern.

Other important dialogues include the EU-US Development Dialogue, the EU-US Education Policy Forum, the EU-US Energy Council, and the EU-US Task Force on Biotechnology.

In addition to such formal mechanisms above, Americans and Europeans are in daily contact at the working level on issues of mutual interest.  Bilateral agreements cover issues ranging from agriculture to technology, and most areas in between.

For More Information

• EU Legislation: Specific Agreements between the EU and the US
• European External Action Service: EU-US Cooperation by Sector
• Council of the European Union: Searchable Database of Agreements