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Co-Chairs Costa, Sikorski Issue Statement following Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue meeting in Washington, D.C. on July 20 and 21

July 21, 2021

The Co-Chairs of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD), Jim Costa and Radek Sikorski, issued the following statement upon the conclusion of the highly successful first meeting of the TLD in the 117th Congress:

"We took the opportunity to stress that we are not just resetting this essential relationship, but are working to build it back even stronger so that we can work together to address jointly the many significant challenges that we face at this time.

"On response to the coronavirus pandemic, we applaud the remarkable scientific breakthroughs that have allowed safe and effective vaccines to be developed so quickly. We called on everyone to be vaccinated as soon as they can and for vaccines to be made available to middle and low-income countries as soon as possible. Vaccines save lives.The European side called for reciprocity from the United States in lifting coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

"We acknowledged that climate change is not just a future threat, butis here with us today as we see floods in Western Europe and fires in California and Oregon. We agreed that the European Union and the United States must lead together. We have not only the opportunity, but the moral obligation to future generations to act now.

"We discussed how best we can develop a common approach to a rising China in order toremain competitive, to safeguard jobs and prosperity, to defend and promote democratic values. We must stand firm in the face of provocation,and resist attempts to uproot and overturn longstanding international norms that the Transatlantic alliance has worked so hard to uphold over more than seven decades.

"We called on the US and EU to step up efforts to deliver results at Ministerial Conference 12 (MC12) and to establish a work program to reform the World Trade Organization. We welcomed the progress under the new administration to solve longstanding trade irritants and hope solutions can be found for the outstanding issues that remain. We stressed the need to find a permanent, broader settlement to address subsidies and overcapacity. We support joint actions to set standards in the technology space which reflect our principles and values. We welcomed the newly established Trade and Technology Counciland called for it to have a significant parliamentary dimension.

"We stressed the paramount importance of safeguarding the peace and prosperity which has been underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement for the people on the Island of Ireland. We called upon the government of the United Kingdom to implement fully the agreement which they themselves recently entered into, and to fulfill their treaty obligations.

"These two days have confirmed the vibrancy of this cooperation between legislators across the Atlantic, coinciding with the relaunch of the Congressional European Union Caucus, and we have agreed to continue our work together in Slovenia this Fall."

The European Parliament delegation consisted ofRadosław Sikorski (TLD Co-Chair, Poland, EPP), MiapetraKumpula-Natri (Finland, S&D), Nicolae Stefanuta (Romania, RENEW), David McAllister (Germany, EPP) and Bernd Lange (Germany, S&D).

You can view a copy of the Joint-Press Statement byclicking here.

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