Welcome from the Chair

Now, more than ever, as we witness global challenges to the international order and stability, the transatlantic partnership between the European Union and the United States of America needs to be stronger than ever. We must continue to defend democracy, the rule of law, and international rules.

For the members of our respective Committee and Delegation, a summit between the US and the EU is always an important moment. The forthcoming summit of 20 October 2023 in Washington DC, the second one under the administration of President Joe Biden, who has proven his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, comes at a crucial moment.

The European Parliament acknowledges the numerous achievements accomplished since the previous summit in 2021, particularly in the area of security and defence, where we must further strengthen and deepen our cooperation. The decisive EU-US response to counter the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as well as mitigation of the destabilising political and economic effects it has created across the world serve as an example of what we can achieve when we work together. We must provide continued military and economic support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ukrainians do not only fight for their own country's sovereignty, but for our transatlantic values, freedoms, and security. We must also pay urgent attention to the emerging crisis in the Middle East, after the barbaric terrorist attack of Hamas against Israel. We also count on US support to bolster EU defence.

The summit must also discuss the multi-layered challenges posed by China. We look forward to the results of the investigation into Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles launched by the European Commission and welcome the new EU anti-coercion instrument. We also need to bolster the activities of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, to produce tangible results on confronting malign disinformation and mitigating the risks involved in the development of artificial intelligence.

The EU and the US should also take the opportunity of this summit to address obstacles to transatlantic trade, notably on steel and aluminum. Equally, both sides should work to advance a critical minerals agreement that would alleviate any discriminating effects of the subsidies granted under the US Inflation Reduction Act. We must show the world that the EU and the US work together to address our challenges.

The 86th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD) took place on 16 and 17 June 2023 at the Swedish Parliament - Riksdag, in Stockholm.

During the meetings, seven Members of the European Parliament - led by MEP Radosław Sikorski (EPP - Poland), Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the United States and EU Co-Chair of the TLD - and ten Members of the US House of Representatives - led by Congressman Nathaniel Moran (Republican, Texas), the US Co-Chair of the TLD - heard from numerous experts and had lively discussions on transatlantic cooperation in the following areas: support to Ukraine, sanctions, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, trade and technology, NATO enlargement and EU-NATO cooperation.

The meeting was officially opened by Dr. Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament and featured the participation of Members of the Riksdag's Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by their Chair, Mr. Aron Emilsson. The IPM also saw the participation of State Secretaries and other officials from the Swedish Government and senior officials from the European Commission, the European External Action Service, NATO and experts from Swedish think tanks.

At the end of the meeting, the TLD Co-Chairs, Messrs. Sikorski and Moran, together with the Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the United States, MEP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D - Finland) and US Ranking Member Rep. Jim Costa (Democrat, California), signed a Joint Statement outlining the conclusions from their discussion and setting the scope for their future dialogues.

The 87th IPM/TLD is expected to take place in the United States in December 2023.

The 86th EU-US Inter-Parliamentary Meeting of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD) will take place on 16 and 17 June 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. The main discussion topics include Transatlantic cooperation in support of Ukraine, Security and Stability in the Indo-Pacific, EU-US Transatlantic Dialogue on Trade and Technology as well as NATO enlargement and EU-NATO cooperation.

The aim of the meeting is to take stock of the current legislative agendas on both sides of the Atlantic and to exchange views on how to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in policy areas of common strategic interest.

@radeksikorski on continued cooperation with the new US Congress under the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, and on his priorities for 2023, via the videolink below:

The aim of the meeting is to take stock of the current legislative agendas on both sides of the Atlantic and to exchange views on how to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in common policy areas such as support of Ukraine where both Houses have responsibility.