About: relations transatlantiques

Norwegian ex-PM Stoltenberg tipped as next NATO chief

In the margins of the EU-US summit, British Prime Minister David Cameron has given his support to Jens Stoltenberg as next secretary general of the NATO defence alliance, securing the Norwegian’s lead to get the position.

Crimea crisis gives NATO a lifeline

The result of Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine, following its 2008 war with Georgia, could be a modest reversal of years of European defence cuts and a bigger US military presence in the NATO members of central and eastern Europe.

EU shunned from US-Russia meeting on Ukraine

A high-ranking European Union diplomat regretted that no EU officials were invited to a London meeting today (14 March) between US State Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, described as a last-chance opportunity before Russia annexes the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

Crimea becomes the hot spot of Russia-Ukraine tensions

The United States told Russia to demonstrate that it was sincere about its promise not to intervene in Ukraine as armed men stormed the regional parliament in Crimea and hours later, in the morning of 28 February, others seized the airport in a mainly ethnic Russian region. 

‘Truce’ in Kyiv as EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he reached an agreement with opposition leaders on a "truce" to halt the fighting that has so far killed 28 people. The United States has stepped up pressure by imposing travel bans on 20 senior Ukrainian officials and EU ministers gather in Brussels today (20 February) to discuss possible sanctions on Ukrainian officials.

Dutch academic: TTIP needed to save ‘crumbling’ transatlantic relationship

The EU and the US are motivated by similar goals in the ongoing bilateral trade talks, even on data protection, according to Peter van Ham, who says political momentum and time constraints will be the biggest challenges to concluding a transatlantic trade pact.

Merkel and Hollande to lay foundation of ‘protected’ EU internet

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday (16 February) she would talk to French President François Hollande about building a European communication network to avoid emails and other data passing through the United States. The Commission welcomed the idea, saying that it went in the same direction with its own efforts on data protection.

Hollande to Obama: Let’s agree TTIP fast

French President François Hollande said yesterday (12 February) “speed is of the essence” for a European Union-US trade deal and that the accord would strengthen economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

US envoy says ‘F**k the EU’ in leaked recording

Victoria Nuland, the United States' top diplomat for Europe and Eurasia, apologised yesterday (6 February) after a voice recording of her using crude language about the EU with the US ambassador to Kyiv was published on YouTube.

EU gives US six months to come clean on visa policy

EXCLUSIVE / The European Commission has told the United States to lift visa requirements on Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia, whose citizens still need an entry permit to travel to the country.

Russia, West say new Ukraine government is condition for aid

The United States and the European Union are in preliminary discussions on possible financial assistance for Ukraine once a new government is formed, a State Department spokeswoman said yesterday (3 February). Russian President Vladimir Putin has also said Moscow would wait until a new government was formed before releasing aid to Ukraine. 

EU, US to provide ‘significant’ aid to Ukraine: Ashton

The European Union and the United States are working on a plan for significant short-term financial assistance for Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was quoted as saying yesterday (2 February).

European Greens nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize

The Green group in the European Parliament has nominated whistleblower Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, on the last day before a deadline for nomination expires tomorrow (1 February).

Reding hails ‘constructive meeting’ with US on data privacy

European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, responsible for justice and fundamental rights, expressed her satisfaction for the “positive and constructive” meeting with US Attorney General Eric Holder on data protection, following revelations about US interception of EU communications. 

Bundestag wants to question Snowden over US eavesdropping

Germany's parliament will hold a special session on revelations that the United States has tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone, with left-wing parties demanding a public inquiry and asking to call in witnesses, including former US intelligence agent Edward Snowden.

The erosion of the transatlantic trust

Until now the Iraq War defined the nadir in trans-Atlantic relations. But that disagreement concerned military intervention. This time, the NSA scandal touches the fundamental issue of trust and that means the consequences of a rupture are more severe, writes Annette Hauser.

Unesco chief: Education quality should feature highly in next MDGs

The post-2015 Millennium Development Goals need to emphasise the quality of education in order to sow tolerance and respect for human rights, and better prepare citizens for global challenges such as climate change, Unesco Director General Irina Bokova told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

EU lawmaker: ‘TTIP is not a monster’

The budding Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has been wrongly portrayed as a Western conspiracy against China when it would positively impact world trade, says a key MEP ahead of a second round of trade negotiations in Brussels between 7-11 October.

Blitzkrieg on Syria: buying time for Israel?

The expected US air attack on Syria appears to address the increased Israeli need for more security in a changed Muslim-Arab neighbourhood. But once it is there militarily, the US will not be able to withdraw soon, writes Stefan Sorin Mure?an.

John Kerry to attend EU ministerial in Vilnius

US Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss Syria, Egypt and Israeli-Palestinian peace talks with European officials on a weekend trip to Vilnius, Paris and London, where he will see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the State Department said yesterday (5 September).

German press says US bugged UN, EU teleconferences

The US National Security Agency has bugged the United Nations' New York headquarters, Germany's Der Spiegel weekly said yesterday (25 August) in a report on US spying that could further strain relations between Washington and its allies.