From Brussels to Washington: Transatlantic Relations Under the New European Commission
Mandy Wang, Taiwan Co-Director - 12/6/24
Image Source: CommonWealth Magazine
This year marks a new chapter in US-EU relations as the United States welcomes newly elected President Trump and the European Union confirms its new European Commission and redefines its strategic priorities. The Commission is expected to pursue an integrated approach in its response to escalating geopolitical challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. This makes understanding how the Commission will influence transatlantic relations through policy changes in areas such as security, trade, and technology essential. The importance of communication between Washington, DC, and Brussels will become increasingly apparent as new policies are implemented.
The Global Europe Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center, in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, hosted a roundtable discussion, ‘From Brussels to Washington: Transatlantic Relations Under the New European Commission,’ on December 6, 2024. This event featured the newly launched joint report, ‘Transatlantic Relations Under the New European Commission,’ published earlier that month. Experts from the Global Europe Program, including Jason C. Moyer, Michelle Egan, Dimitris Tsarouhas, Kellee Wicker, and Masa Ocvirk, presented a summary of the new European Commission's priorities. They focused on increasing Europe's resilience in response to intensified geopolitical dynamics, including challenges posed by the Trump 2.0 Administration. The report addressed key issues such as economic resilience, defense capabilities, strengthening cooperation, technology collaboration, and ensuring energy security. Although Taiwan was not mentioned during the event, it was implied that growing geopolitical tensions, including those concerning the Taiwan Strait, have stimulated the EU to enhance defense budgets and accelerate relevant industrial development.
The Biden administration’s approach to China was characterized by its recognition of the nation as the “primary strategic challenger.” Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken worked to convince European allies of the importance of the Taiwan Strait to the global economy. He emphasized that a strong US-EU alliance is crucial for exerting pressure on China, noting that approximately 50% of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait, which supplies 70% of the world's chips. Throughout the Biden administration, Europe has been seen as a top ally in supporting Taiwan against China’s aggressive claims. Blinken prioritized collaboration with European nations, highlighting that the issues surrounding Taiwan are significant to them as well. He also sought to shift Taiwan's defensive strategy from "Strategic Ambiguity" to "Strategic Clarity" in the event that China would attempt to alter the Taiwanese status quo.
In early 2024, significant developments occurred in Brussels as the European Parliament passed a pro-Taiwan resolution aimed at addressing the misinterpretation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 by the People's Republic of China, which has been used to block Taiwan's international participation. The resolution also addressed China's ongoing military provocations around Taiwan, affirming that Taiwan is a like-minded partner of the EU in the Indo-Pacific. Following this, the US and EU issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for Taiwan's international participation and recognizing its commitment to democratic governance.
The implementation of new policies provides substantial support to Taiwan while affirming the island's shared values of democratic governance, economic contributions, and defense capabilities. Consequently, Taiwan should explore all possibilities for enhancing collaboration with the EU to maximize bilateral economic benefits and security agreements.
Recently, China's economic sanctions against Lithuania and its military agreement with Russia during the invasion of Ukraine have created a temporary opportunity for Taiwan to strengthen its economic ties and unofficial alignment with Brussels. Under Marco Rubio, who was confirmed as Secretary of State on January 20, the diplomatic efforts initiated during Blinken's tenure, including raising Brussels' awareness of Indo-Pacific security and the importance of Taiwan, are expected to continue. It remains to be seen how Rubio will engage with the new EU agenda regarding US-EU relations and whether the two entities will sustain their joint efforts to oppose China.