Brian MURPHY | Transatlantic opinion

1.What is your current assessment of the 'state' of transatlantic relations?

Transatlantic relations are generally stable and amicable. The current frictions are caused by the shift in cold war priorities. The EU is adjusting to a higher profile in the world while the US is learning how to accommodate the enhanced role of the EU.

2. Do you think that the next decade will bring positive news in the two 'historical' pillars of the US-EU relations: security and trade?

Transatlantic relations will remain solid in upcoming years. Security is less likely to be a problem since the partners need one another to promote their own interests. Trade will continue to experience patterns of conflict but will not escalate beyond manageable levels.

3. You support the organization of the congress ‘Reshaping Transatlantic Relations for the XXIst century: the citizens’ perspective’ to be held in Miami on November 14th-16th. Do you think that such an event can bring new fresh ideas on the present debate over the transatlantic relations?

The best vehicle for encouraging harmony in transatlantic relations is dialogue. The congress constitutes a major step in developing the future format of transatlantic relations in which civil society plays a greater role outside the channels of governmental interaction.

4. Is the 'people-to-people' cooperation able to open new fields of constructive US-EU cooperation in the coming years? In which way?

The "people-to-people" pillar of the new transatlantic agenda has not yet proven a success because it was never effectively supported on official levels. With civil society leadership, the possibility for opening new avenues of collaboration emerges.

5. Being the two richest and most democratic areas on the planet, do you think that both the EU and the US societies face a special responsibility regarding globalization on the one hand; and on the other hand, do you think that they will face a growing number of similar challenges in their way towards the next decades?

The privileges of wealth and power confer a responsibility. The transatlantic alliance has an obligation to facilitate improvement of impoverished areas of the world. More important, the failure to exercise leadership would generate a worse outcome. Abdication or neglect would be equally harmful to the USA and the EU.

6. Beyond treaties, organizations, common interests, ... the cooperation between Europeans and Americans is, in the end, a matter of people cooperating with people (politicians, civil servants, businessmen, executives, professors, activists,). How do you assess this 'human factor' today? Should it be improved?

The possibilities for greater cooperation are provided by new technologies. If used properly, networking on a transatlantic scope would lessen and even anticipate potential problems in the relationship.