The relationship between the US and the EU needs to be ‘rewired’ – Alfred Sant

The Head of the Maltese S&D Delegation to the European Parliament Alfred Sant intervened in a plenary debate on the future of relations between the US and the EU to claim that the time has come for a rewiring of the historic alliance between Europe and the US. The transatlantic relationship between the United States and Europe, he stated, had been beneficial to both sides and to the entire world. However, it now needs adapting.

The plenary of the European Parliament was debating a report written by S&D MEP Tonino Picula, on which they then voted.

In his speech, former Prime Minister Sant highlighted that the US and the EU have a different institutional and political profile and different competences.

So he queried, should the continuation of the EU-US partnership be established on “shared values” or “converging interests”? It is not realistic to have both, he argued. Sant warned that in adjusting its relationship with the US, the EU should not support unthinkingly the US in some race against China and neither should it hustle the EU into premature defence union.

“Given the present nature and competences of the EU, would it not be better to focus first on the many converging interests that exist with the US to renew the relationship between the two?” Sant said.