Europe gets its choice for the White House

Civitas, 10 November 2008

At the forefront of global affairs last week was the election of the next US President, Barack Obama. As the leader of the ‘free world’ the US President wields such significant power that it undoubtedly impacts on Europe, acknowledged in a Gallup poll which found that two-thirds of Europeans believe that any action an American president makes will also affect their country. Clearly Europe has no say in the selection of this powerful position, although some may say it has been granted the preferred candidate. According to EUObserver, had Europeans had the chance to vote in this election they would have voted for Mr Obama by an overwhelming majority of four to one. However, is Europe prepared for any demands that may come from closer EU-US relations? Asks Claire Mullarkey.

While a presidential candidate, or in his own words merely a ‘fellow citizen of the world’, Barack Obama has already been active in laying the foundations for a constructive US- EU relationship, exemplified by his speech in Berlin during the summer. His language is, as ever, emotive and ambitious, but nevertheless represents a substantial change in tone from his predecessor. He calls for ‘constant cooperation’ between America and Europe in order to ‘remake the world once again’. Obama’s mission of ‘change’ is international in its reach, which is something that Europe must be prepared for.
The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has welcomed Obama’s succession to the White House as ‘a time for renewed commitment between Europe and the United States of America’. In addition, Brussels has declared enthusiastic support for ‘a new deal in a new world’, under Obama.
Under the George W. Bush presidency EU-US relations have been strained to say the least, epitomised by EU opposition to an aggressive US foreign policy. However Obama, a Democrat, has been forthright in his opposition of the Iraq war and appears to share more common ground with the EU. It will be interesting to see whether the change of personnel in the White House will mean that the close relationship across the Atlantic between the UK and the US will spread towards the Mediterranean. In this way his presidential victory could signal a substantial shift in international relations. United EU- US action will certainly be a force to be reckoned with, however this powerful alliance must be developed in a considered way.
The most significant areas in which this enhanced relationship would manifest itself are in foreign, environmental, and economic policy. Despite having progressively converging views on these areas, with a more liberal incoming resident of the White House, Europe must expect to receive increasingly robust requests for assistance from the EU. Particularly so in the area of foreign policy, with Obama already having referred to the need for an increase in Europe’s involvement in Afghanistan, as well as a joint effort in the reduction of greenhouse emissions.
Mark Leonard and Daniel Korski from the think tank the European Council on Foreign Relations warn that Obama’s move into the White House will ‘expose the gulf between European rhetoric and capability,’ effectively demanding that Europe puts it’s money where it’s mouth is. They warn therefore that the EU must prepare ‘a shared plan of action – backed by European commitments’ for the incoming president.
The Presidential victory of Barack Obama, although welcomed by a majority of the EU’s Member States, must be treated with careful consideration by its central institutions. A closer alignment with the US will put pressure on the EU’s global reputation and test its capacity for international leadership, a role it so desperately covets.