EU-US Summit: time for concrete and decisive actions

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) and Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, has made the following statement on tomorrow’s EU-US Summit:

“The EU-US Summit takes place at a timely moment. The EU and the United States must work together to support the Ukrainian people in their struggle for a united, free and democratic country. Together with our US partners, we must stand side by side with Ukraine and other European States, such as Moldova or Georgia, threatened by the Russian President’s old-fashioned expansionist ambitions and prepare for broader sanctions against Russia, including massive economic sanctions and an arms and dual-use technologies embargo. I am convinced that only a strong EU with a strong America as its partner and ally can guarantee peace and prosperity in this century.

We all know the difficult challenges we face today: economic insecurity, energy independence, climate change, migration and terrorism. Common action on these fronts is essential. On energy issues, the EU and the US can learn from each other and further cooperation would be mutually beneficial. I encourage the US to start exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU to help it move away from dependence on Russian gas.

In the EPP, we believe that the EU must maintain and develop a strong transatlantic partnership, combining a free and fair market built on common values and mutual trust.

Such a transatlantic market will contribute to trade revenues and increased growth, creating more jobs and prosperity for European citizens. Our combined Gross Domestic Products (GDP) represent more than half of the global GDP. We, as partners, have the world's strongest bilateral trade and investment partnership, accounting for more than 30% of world trade. Each day, $2.7 billion of goods and services are traded bilaterally, supporting millions of jobs in both our economies.

Our relationship goes further than a trade agreement. Together, the EU and the US can take the lead in developing strategies to address global threats and challenges, from Iran and the nuclear issue to the Syria and Middle East conflicts, and threats from international terrorism, cybercrime and climate change. I hope this Summit will turn all the goodwill from both sides into beneficial actions for all of us. It should also not shy away from more sensitive issues such as data protection, where mutually-acceptable solutions must be found.”