The interparliamentary relationship between the European Parliament and the United States Congress is the longest and most intensive one in the history of the European Parliament, and dates back to 1972 when a US Congress delegation visited the European Parliament for the first time.
The two delegations meet regularly twice a year, in Europe and the US. When these meetings are held in the European Union (EU) they usually take place in the capital of the country holding the EU presidency.
At the 50th Interparliamentary meeting on 15-16 January 1999 in Strasbourg, both delegations decided to launch the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD), the formal response of the EP and the US Congress to the call in the New Transatlantic Agenda for enhanced parliamentary ties. Subsequently, TLD activities expanded in order to include videoconferences, special working groups on subjects of particular interest, as well as a facilitating role for direct committee-to-committee exchanges between legislative committees of the European Parliament and the US Congress.
TLD representatives are also part of the "advisory group" instituted within the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), launched by the EU and the US, on the occasion of the bilateral Summit held in Washington in April 2007.
For more information click on "General Documents" at the top of the page.
