Framing a Transatlantic Agenda for a Global Era
The bonds uniting the transatlantic community were forged during the Cold War, but the opportunities and challenges of 2006 lie far beyond Europe and involve issues that were previously peripheral to the transatlantic relationship.

The bonds uniting the countries that comprise the transatlantic community were forged during the decades of the Cold War. The commitment of these countries to peace, development, and democracy brought them international legitimacy, which added immeasurably to the material strength of their combined economies and militaries and allowed them to prevail over the Soviet Union.

The focus of the Cold War agenda was Europe. In 2006, the focus of the transatlantic agenda is global. The opportunities and challenges of the 21st century lie far beyond Europe and involve issues that not only were peripheral to the transatlantic relationship during the Cold War, but also on which there was often disagreement across the Atlantic. Today, Americans and Europeans must work to forge a common policy on how to engage rising powers like China and India, how to meet the threat of global terrorism, how to restabilize the Middle East, and how to cooperate on securing energy supplies. This new agenda demands a new vision and framework for transatlantic cooperation.

Luncheon: The Importance of the German–American Economic Relationship

21st Century Challenges: From Global Terrorism to Global Pandemics
In the post-9/11 era, the classic definition of security — the protection of the nation-state and its citizens against external attack — no longer suffices. Terrorist attacks, criminal networks, and major pandemic outbreaks have risen to the top of the policy agenda.

The United States and Europe have made significant efforts — some successful, some not — to deal with the new, transnational threats provided by terrorist networks. Government precautions have changed in citizens’ daily lives, from entering an office to boarding a plane. But governments are also acting to prevent terrorism on fronts unseen by most citizens.

Pandemics are not man-made, but their risk, impact, and cost are influenced by human decisions. Some security experts rank pandemics above terrorism in terms of risk. Among the key issues are the viability of risk assessments, options for preparation and management, creating public resilience, the consequences for the functioning of government and the world economy, and the impact of federalist structures on the efficiency of catastrophic prevention.

21.45
Night Owl
Session

Chatham House Rule

Building Democracy in Wider Europe
The transatlantic foreign and security policy agenda has shifted toward a new geographical area with three distinct challenges: the EU’s Wider Europe framework, the reform and integration process in the Balkans, and security issues arising around the Black Sea.

With the dual enlargement of the EU and NATO two years ago, a major part of Central and Eastern Europe became formally and firmly anchored in the main structures of European and transatlantic integration. This achievement shifted the foreign and security policy agenda of the transatlantic community toward a new geographical area with distinct problems.

The EU’s Wider Europe framework, the reform and integration process in the Balkans, and security issues arising around the Black Sea are three of the most salient challenges for security and democracy. The Euroatlantic community faces a chance to advance freedom, democracy, and civil society in its neighborhood. Success will depend on both democratic forces within countries but also on sustained commitment and assistance from outside. The democratic waves that swept through Serbia and, more recently, Georgia and Ukraine has followed a similar pattern, resulting from a comparable mix of civic and political, domestic and international, factors. These countries continue on a thorny road of democratic reform.

For many, the recent wave of democratic change has nourished hopes that other countries in Eastern Europe may soon undergo similar developments. Others have warned that governments in the region may respond with authoritarian measures to suppress democratic movements. To date, NATO and the EU have established various forms of partnerships to help create incentives for further democratic reforms in these countries.

Beyond the Balkans
The arc of the Balkans across Southeastern Europe is where the United States and Europe have worked closely together in modern times to stabilize a region of crisis within Europe’s borders. Today, the Balkans is a living example of how reality can unfold following outside military intervention. The United States, Europe, and the world can see how significant resources committed by the transatlantic community over the last 10 years have been able to facilitate a lasting peace in the region.

2006 may bring closure on the outstanding Kosovo status issue and movement on the uncertain union of Serbia and Montenegro. It is also the year in which the last of the fugitives and prisoners under indictment will be brought before the International Criminal Tribunal on Former Yugoslavia.

China: From the Arms Embargo to the Yuan
The United States and Europe have had little genuine transatlantic dialogue on China despite both having major stakes in the country’s future political and economic evolution.

The future of the transatlantic relationship is increasingly being shaped by issues and threats that emanate from beyond the continent. China is a key challenge that the United States and Europe face, but on which there has been little genuine transatlantic dialogue. Both sides of the Atlantic have a major stake in the future political evolution of China. We want to encourage democratic trends, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights in China. At the same time, we have substantial and growing commercial interests in China. The U.S. continues to play a key strategic role in Asia and carries responsibilities there that Europe does not, though Europeans readily admit their interest in the maintenance of stability in that region.

The recent controversy over the lifting of the EU arms embargo against China is a prime example of the spill-over effects that European-Chinese or U.S.-Chinese relations can have on the transatlantic partnership. In addition, there have been quarrels over security guarantees for Taiwan and human rights violations within China and how to deal with them as the international community. The heated debates about these issues show the increased salience of China’s rising power on the U.S. and the EU. Some observers even argue that we are currently witnessing the emergence of a new strategic triangle, which will — in competition, or, preferably, in cooperation — shape global politics in the 21st century.

8.00-9.00

Chatham House Rule

Stability in the Middle East has long topped the transatlantic agenda. The war in Iraq and its chaotic aftermath, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, recent developments in Lebanon and Syria, Israel’s new leadership, and a Hamas-led Palestinian government have all contributed to deep uncertainty within the region. Thus, a critical issue for both Europe and the United States is how to work together to stabilize the Middle East.

In addressing Iran’s nuclear program, disagreement among the UN Security Council’s permanent five members is preventing serious action from being taken to contain Iran. Some argue that the U.S. and Europe should pursue alternatives to UN action. The underlying challenge is how to encourage a political maturation that would result in Iran becoming a more constructive member of the world community. On another front, Europe and the U.S. remain committed to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Neither seems certain whether to hope for failure of the Hamas-led government and early elections, or for success. Many question whether democratic elections are the path to stability and security in the Arab world. Finally, in Iraq, Europeans share the same goals as the U.S. in desiring an Iraq that is stable, secure, federal, prosperous, and democratic, but seem unsure how best to advance this goal.

Chatham House Rule

Transatlantic Foreign Investment: Confronting Protectionism, Increasing Cooperation
Fear of outside ownership has prompted discussions about the proper balance between economic openness and national security.  Legislatures in both the U.S. and EU have responded defensively as politicians grapple with the tradeoffs of cross-border ownership

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the bedrock of the powerful U.S.-EU economic relationship. There is no larger bilateral transfer of capital in the world. Half of the world’s total FDI is American, and the bulk of it pours into Europe; EU nations put two-thirds of their annual FDI into the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that, in 2005 alone, $326 billion of FDI was conducted by the U.S. and EU.

This powerful flow of capital is facing its first serious threat in decades. Fear of outside ownership has prompted discussions about the proper balance between economic openness and national security. Recent takeover bids by Enel, EON AG, and the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation sparked public concern that vital domestic industries could be controlled by foreign — and potentially hostile — companies or governments. In particular, the recent purchase by Dubai Ports World of the British maritime giant P&O, which manages major American ports, caused a political firestorm on Capitol Hill.

Legislatures in both the U.S. and EU have responded defensively as politicians grapple with the tradeoffs of cross-border ownership. The U.S. and EU are considering muscular measures to protect domestic companies they deem “strategic assets” from foreign ownership and competition.

9.15–10.45

Chatham House Rule

Do We Need a Transatlantic Energy Security Policy?
Electricity grids and natural gas pipelines lace the maps of multiple regions, linking countries, continents, and pricing in complicated and unprecedented ways. At the same time, nuclear energy is rising to dominate the debate.

Securing reliable sources of energy has bedeviled nations of the transatlantic community since the discovery of oil. Threats of war and actual wars over access to energy supplies, and financial wars over pricing, were landmarks of 20th century geopolitics.

The beginning of the 21st century has seen energy escalate to a geopolitical imperative with nations defending existing, dwindling energy supplies while searching for alternative sources. Prices of fossil fuels have soared, terrorists threaten the energy infrastructure, and attacks at the source in some producer nations are now valuable terrorist weapons. Today, electricity grids and natural gas pipelines lace the maps of multiple regions, linking countries, continents, and pricing in complicated and unprecedented ways. While the EU was relieved at the end of the Russia–Ukraine gas row earlier this year, Europeans were confronted dramatically with the consequences of energy dependence. As a result, nuclear energy is not only back on the table but is rising to dominate the debate. Energy policy has become a critical arena for transatlantic coordination and cooperation.

11.15–12.45

Chatham House Rule

Culture, Identity, and Integration: A New Transatlantic Challenge

The debate in Europe over whether and how to integrate minorities into society has become a central and controversial issue in current European political discourse. Traditional models of integration — including the so-called French Republican model and the Northern European liberal model — have been called into question. Critics point to the failings of governments and policies, as well as individuals, to successfully integrate.

While this debate is not only about religion or Islam, the religious and cultural dimensions undoubtedly play a central role. The EU’s own uncertain future, a massive demographic challenge, the lack of economic growth, and high unemployment rates all contribute to the anxiety. The U.S. is also increasingly concerned about how estranged, radicalized minorities in Europe can become breeding grounds for terrorist groups that affect homeland security. The U.S. and European governments have begun to build bridges between Muslim communities on both continents and to help each other learn from integration experiences.

In the U.S., immigration and integration are in the political spotlight as well. Recent attempts in the United States Congress to control or stop the flow of immigrants have sparked rallies and marches across the country as Latinos, some illegal immigrants and some multiple-generation Americans, have called for more immigration. This reaction represents the strongest showing of political unity ever among America’s most populous minority group.