The European Union is looking for ways to strengthen ties with the United States once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.
On Monday, EU members debated the best ways to “renew and reinvigorate” the partnership, according to Reuters, which obtained an internal document.
Ambassadors from the 27 countries that make up the EU considered five broad policy initiatives they believe will help bridge the transatlantic divide. The initiatives were health, which includes fighting the coronavirus pandemic, helping the economic recovery, fighting against climate change, promoting peace and security, and upholding shared values.
“The arrival of a new administration and congress … is an opportunity for the EU to renew and reinvigorate its strategic partnership with the U.S. based on mutual interests,” the document said. “The EU should agree a set of concrete priorities on which to engage the new US leadership.”
The EU leaders have a summit coming up next month, from Dec. 10-11, and are expected to debate transatlantic relations with the U.S. European Council President Charles Michel has invited Biden to an in-person event during the first half of next year.
President Trump, throughout his four years in office, has taken an “America first” strategy, which has resulted in pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement, the Paris climate agreement, and the World Health Organization.
While Trump has refused to concede to Biden and repeatedly claimed the election was rigged and stolen from him, several foreign leaders have congratulated the former vice president on becoming president-elect. Biden has been congratulated by Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
