{ "id": "RS22163", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RS22163", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 438046, "date": "2015-02-03", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:33:11.229892", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "Due to extensive cooperation on a wide range of issues, the relationship between the United States and Europe is often called the transatlantic partnership. The two sides have many common values and concerns, and have grown increasingly interdependent in terms of security and prosperity. The transatlantic relationship and the main areas of U.S.-European cooperation and shared interest are likely to have continuing implications for U.S. policy during the 114th Congress. Members of Congress may have an interest in considering the dimensions and dynamics of current issues in U.S.-European relations in the course of oversight or legislative activities, or in the context of direct interactions with European legislators and officials. \nAccording to most observers, the overall tone of transatlantic relations during the Obama Administration has been largely positive. At the same time, a constructive tone does not necessarily translate into tangible results with regard to foreign policy objectives or other goals. With respect to certain issues, U.S. and European policies have been at odds and have generated friction in the relationship from time to time. \nThis report summarizes key issues that both illustrate the nature of U.S.-European cooperation based on shared interests and present challenges in terms of the efficacy of such cooperation: \nU.S. and European relations with Russia have become more adversarial in the context of Russia\u2019s annexation of Crimea and its actions destabilizing Ukraine. The United States and the European Union (EU) have imposed sanctions that, combined with low oil prices, have harmed the Russian economy. Rising tensions with Russia have altered previous assumptions about European security and affected debates about the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European energy security.\nThe United States and European countries have been cooperating in efforts to counter the Islamic State and seek a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Recent estimates suggest that upward of 3,000 European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join groups involved in the conflict, and the potential threat posed by returning \u201cforeign fighters\u201d has become a central concern. U.S.-EU counterterrorism cooperation has been strong since 9/11, although differences regarding data privacy have posed some key information-sharing challenges.\nThe United States and Europe remain central actors in negotiations seeking to reach an agreement that ensures that Iran\u2019s nuclear program can be used solely for peaceful purposes. While an extensive array of U.S. and EU sanctions have worked to isolate and pressure Iran, the final outcome of talks remains uncertain. \nThe United States and EU share broad objectives with regard to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Increased European support for recognizing Palestinian statehood, however, has diverged from the approach taken by the United States and strained Europe\u2019s relationship with Israel. \nThe United States and the EU have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world. The two sides have been negotiating a free trade agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) aimed at boosting jobs and growth on both sides, but obstacles could make it difficult to conclude a deal by the end of 2015. While the conditions that fueled the Eurozone crisis from 2010-2012 appear to have stabilized, there is considerable doubt that underlying economic problems in Europe have been fully resolved. \nAllegations of U.S. spying and surveillance programs in Europe have caused a sharp backlash and damaged transatlantic trust. Although tensions appear to have proven manageable and U.S. intelligence cooperation with European governments continues, data privacy concerns could complicate future talks on U.S.-EU information-sharing agreements. \nThe United States takes over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council in May 2015. The Artic is increasingly viewed as a region of potential economic and geopolitical importance. \nAs the United States and Europe face a changing geopolitical environment, some observers assert that the global influence of the Euro-Atlantic partnership is in decline. In addition, the Obama Administration\u2019s announced intention of \u201cre-balancing\u201d U.S. foreign policy toward Asia has caused some anxiety among Europeans. Overall, however, most analysts maintain that the United States and Europe are likely to remain one another\u2019s closest partner, and that U.S.-European cooperation is likely to remain the foundation of international action on a wide range of critical issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS22163", "sha1": "9ba6987e2742e7327520ebfdc3dee4478ec52138", "filename": "files/20150203_RS22163_9ba6987e2742e7327520ebfdc3dee4478ec52138.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS22163", "sha1": "e6a5f5c308bd856aba6fc1a8f606c3cc440746cb", "filename": "files/20150203_RS22163_e6a5f5c308bd856aba6fc1a8f606c3cc440746cb.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4636, "name": "Europe: Regional Policy, Bilateral Relations, and Key Issues" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 522, "name": "European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462265/", "id": "RS22163_2013Mar20", "date": "2013-03-20", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "This report examines a number of issues that illustrate the cooperation of U.S.-European cooperation based on shared interests and present challenges. These issues include specifics topics in economics, foreign policy and international security, terrorism, cybersecurity, and energy.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130320_RS22163_caa35a458560bed44265dfc90b740b8398c1a20e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130320_RS22163_caa35a458560bed44265dfc90b740b8398c1a20e.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- European Union", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- European Union -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- European Union -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810558/", "id": "RS22163_2012Feb28", "date": "2012-02-28", "retrieved": 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"topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812022/", "id": "RS22163_2011May04", "date": "2011-05-04", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110504_RS22163_fae496780a7afa0a15374f59405b4e7f7b732d8a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110504_RS22163_fae496780a7afa0a15374f59405b4e7f7b732d8a.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491224/", "id": "RS22163_2010Dec08", "date": "2010-12-08", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses the key issues outlined above, which are likely to have implications for U.S. interests during the 112th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101208_RS22163_55f69417271fef9dd8c9ac1bf6c4fe9d16e437d7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101208_RS22163_55f69417271fef9dd8c9ac1bf6c4fe9d16e437d7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc505594/", "id": "RS22163_2010Feb01", "date": "2010-02-01", "retrieved": "2015-05-29T05:37:21", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses the key issues outlined above, which are likely to have implications for U.S. interests during the 111th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100201_RS22163_1ddf9d94a6d77043627d8f79fd2f34fc20d1447e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100201_RS22163_1ddf9d94a6d77043627d8f79fd2f34fc20d1447e.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700776/", "id": "RS22163_2009Aug05", "date": "2009-08-05", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses some key issues which may have implications for U.S. interests during the 111th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090805_RS22163_3881c0b1622ddb7406ce2775ee1e419c1b4f8655.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090805_RS22163_3881c0b1622ddb7406ce2775ee1e419c1b4f8655.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700807/", "id": "RS22163_2009Mar16", "date": "2009-03-16", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses the key issues outlined above, which are likely to have implications for U.S. interests during the 111th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090316_RS22163_0927d642a39e3d74e7813cc31cf3daff7dd7205b.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090316_RS22163_0927d642a39e3d74e7813cc31cf3daff7dd7205b.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10642/", "id": "RS22163_2008Jul02", "date": "2008-07-02", "retrieved": "2008-12-11T20:31:47", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "The United States and Europe share a long and intertwined history. Both sides of the Atlantic face a common set of international concerns, have few other comparable partners, and share a deep economic relationship. Despite much improvement in overall relations since the divisive debate over Iraq policy, several foreign policy and trade disputes remain. This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and key issues that may have implications for U.S. interests in the second session of the 110th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080702_RS22163_e9e9c78e37c57965e655b58966508fa18b576735.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080702_RS22163_e9e9c78e37c57965e655b58966508fa18b576735.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815062/", "id": "RS22163_2006Nov21", "date": "2006-11-21", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20061121_RS22163_d9c1a151f4049f15ad676f8ca8636f29a198b79b.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20061121_RS22163_d9c1a151f4049f15ad676f8ca8636f29a198b79b.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811004/", "id": "RS22163_2006Jul05", "date": "2006-07-05", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060705_RS22163_359381c44c169106aaed0521c72c4bdb8c72d875.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060705_RS22163_359381c44c169106aaed0521c72c4bdb8c72d875.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs8950/", "id": "RS22163 2006-04-06", "date": "2006-04-06", "retrieved": "2006-07-03T14:33:46", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060406_RS22163_c024901baf17eea59dfc5ba6114aefbbb4d5d5f7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060406_RS22163_c024901baf17eea59dfc5ba6114aefbbb4d5d5f7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821124/", "id": "RS22163_2005Dec28", "date": "2005-12-28", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": "The United States and Europe share a long and intertwined history. Despite the end of the Cold War, both sides of the Atlantic continue to face a common set of international concerns, have few other comparable partners, and share a huge economic relationship. Nevertheless, numerous foreign policy and trade conflicts have seriously challenged U.S.-European relations in recent years. This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and key issues in Europe and beyond that have implications for U.S. interests.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20051228_RS22163_a40f179024971a690e15f127208e19d387efb331.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20051228_RS22163_a40f179024971a690e15f127208e19d387efb331.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7756/", "id": "RS22163 2005-06-10", "date": "2005-06-10", "retrieved": "2005-11-18T09:42:18", "title": "The United States and Europe: Current Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050610_RS22163_70ae615861cd6cba45f5d7dfbde212d4123013d8.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050610_RS22163_70ae615861cd6cba45f5d7dfbde212d4123013d8.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - Europe - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Europe" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security", "National Defense" ] }