EU congratulates Joe Biden and wants to rebuild 'robust partnership' with US
EU leaders on Saturday congratulated Joe Biden on his election to the US presidency, calling for rebuilding with the United States a "strong partnership" after a conflicting relationship under Donald Trump's tenure.
- John Thys / Reuters
Text by: RFI Follow
6 min
Several European leaders congratulated Joe Biden on his election to the American presidency on Saturday, calling for rebuilding a “solid partnership” with the United States after a conflictual relationship under the mandate of Donald Trump.
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"
I warmly congratulate Joe Biden on his victory and look forward to meeting him as soon as possible
", reacted the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU and the United States "
are friends and allies
", stressed the European executive, pointing out a relationship "
rooted in shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, social justice. open
”.
"
The Commission stands ready to intensify its cooperation with the new administration and the new Congress
", she concluded.
I warmly congratulate @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris for their victory in the US Presidential elections.
The EU and the USA are friends and allies, our citizens share the deepest of links.
I look forward to working with President-elect Biden.
Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 7, 2020
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, the body representing the 27 Member States, has been more cautious: “
We take note of the latest developments in the electoral process.
On this basis, the EU congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for reaching enough leading voters,
”he explained.
Before insisting: “
The EU is ready to commit to a robust transatlantic partnership.
Covid-19, multilateralism, climate change and international trade are challenges to be tackled together
. ”
Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris #EU is ready to engage for a strong transatlantic partnership.
COVID-19, multilateralism, climate change and international trade are some of the challenges which Europe wants to address together. # EUCO https://t.co/lPKdcHjMdl
Charles Michel (@eucopresident) November 7, 2020
"
It's a fantastic day for the United States and Europe, we look forward to working with the new administration to rebuild our partnership,
" said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
A
necessary
"
reconstruction
", as relations between Washington and Europe have been severely tested by the Trump administration, between trade conflict, opposition to digital taxation or NATO,
American withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
on the climate and
the Iran nuclear deal
.
“
In the future, our differences will no longer be resolved on Twitter,
” quipped Martin Selmayr, Commission representative in Vienna and influential ex-Brussels official.
According to a European source, Charles Michel had prepared in recent weeks "
different scenarios
" on the outcome of the election, and the heads of state and government of the 27 agreed on Saturday to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, "
simultaneously
Around 7 p.m. in similar terms, expressing "
their respect for the electoral process
".
Coordinated action on international issues
Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “
Congratulations to Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
We have a lot to do to meet today's challenges.
Let's act together
!
The French president hopes that Joe Biden will allow the reestablishment of coordinated action on major international issues, that the United States will return to the world diplomatic table from which
Donald Trump
had moved them away.
A return to more traditional relations and less subject to the upheavals of President Trump's reactions, explains
Valérie Gas,
journalist in the political service of RFI.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel therefore respected this joint effort, as did the leaders of Brussels.
But Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, head of the anti-migrant SDS party, refused to congratulate Joe Biden, arguing on Twitter that the results were "
not yet official
" and that Donald Trump "was
preparing appeals in court
”.
The Americans have appointed their President.
Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris!
We have a lot to do to meet today's challenges.
Let's act together!
Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 7, 2020
In the European Parliament, enthusiasm dominated: Dacian Ciolos, president of the Renew group (centrists and liberals) spoke of "
a new dawn
" in the relationship between the EU and the United States.
Shortly before the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, which Joe Biden intends to reinstate, "this
is a very encouraging signal
" for the climate, observed MEP Pascal Canfin.
“
Trump's defeat may mark the beginning of the end of the triumph of far-right populism in Europe.
Thanks Joe
!
», Also launched the leader of the European People's Party (EPP), former President of the European Council and former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“
It's a tremendous relief.
It is time for an American president to do his job seriously, to support democracies and not dictators
”, added the vice-president of the S&D group (socialists and democrats) in Parliament, Kati Piri.
Others were more reserved: "To
imagine that the end of Trump signifies the return of a fantasized golden age of the transatlantic link is to ignore the evolution of the United States and the international context
", warned the MEP Arnaud Danjean (PPE), warning against a "
difficult awakening
" after "
the euphoria
".
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