Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2016)
CHALLENGES IN TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS
Abstract
Since World War II the most important ally of the western European countries is the United States of America. However, it is also the country which poses a challenge to the European Union, even though Brussels uses it as a prototype of decision making. In the beginning it was important to form a group of countries which can play an important role to stop the expansion of communism on the western part of the continent. After giving the Marshall-aid, Washington formed the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization in order to create a military cover and protect the American investments. The USA also supported the European integration process but never let the member countries form their own EU army even if there was and there still is a need for one. Only 6 of the 28 EU member states is not the member of the NATO. Besides the non-existing army, there are important success stories like the common currency, which became too important at global level and started to endanger the position of the US dollar as a global currency. This is the reason why a propaganda campaign was going on against the euro and the Eurozone in the English speaking media where British and American journalists were talking about the crisis of Greece, instilling that the EU is weak as well. Furthermore, they were also reporting that Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain are facing severe problems. Using such soft power instruments, people all around the world started to believe that the European currency is not stable and it is rather unreasonable to keep it. In all these actions Great Britain played a substantial role, because they are the closest ally of the USA in the EU. They appear, however, to be going too far with their referend and Washington is trying to convince London to stay in. The reason is evident, their economies, their companies are connected to each other to a great extent and without the British membership there would be less American influence on the decisions of Brussels. And last but not least some words must be said about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership which is under negotiation.
